Edited for brevity.
Austrian security forces foiled an attempt to assassinate a son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during a European trip in November, Yonhap News reported on Sunday, but Austrian authorities denied any incident. | "Of course we didn't foil the plot against him! He's dead, isn't he?" |
The report of the plot against Kim Jong-nam came amid persistent rumors of internal political strife in the reclusive communist state and within the nation's first family itself.
"Not so's you'd notice."
"Oh. Well. Maybe we did, then." |
Citing a source familiar with North Korean affairs, the South Korean news agency said the failed plot had been planned by North Koreans favoring other of Kim Jong-il's sons as his eventual successor.
| "Hrarrr! T'other lad's a milksop! We must have the young prince!" |
"Kim ran into an attempt to assassinate him during his visit to Europe in mid-November, but the Austrian intelligence agency had received a tip in advance and protected him," Yonhap quoted the source as saying.
"The attempt was made by anti-Kim (Jong-nam) groups in North Korea."
"Here, yer highness! Behind this car!"
"Thanks! Where are they firing from?"
"Pyongyang, I think!" |
Austria's Interior Ministry confirmed Kim Jong-nam was in Vienna for two days about two weeks ago and said he was guarded during his stay by state anti-terrorism agents, but added this was routine for foreign dignitaries. "There were no incidents. We are not aware of anything like this reported plot," spokesman Rudolf Gollia said.
"Nope. Wasn't us. And there's no truth to the rumors that we broke any codes or monitored any transmissions. Nope. Nope. Nope." |