SEOUL, Dec 19: 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.

The report of the plot against Kim Jong-nam came amid persistent rumours of internal political strife in the state and within the nation's first family itself. Citing a source familiar with North Korean affairs, the South Korean news agency said the failed plot had been planned by North Koreans favouring other of Kim Jong-il's sons as his eventual successor.

"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."

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. South Korea's National Intelligence Service could not confirm the report but said Seoul's government was checking it.

In November, global financial markets were swept by rumours that Kim Jong-il had been assassinated or overthrown. At the same time, diplomats and officials were reported as saying that some of Kim's portraits had been removed from public places. The North's official KCNA news agency later denied this.

Long seen as his 62-year-old father's heir apparent, Kim Jong-nam's star is thought to have waned after he was caught trying to sneak into Japan on a false passport in 2001.

Although a thick veil conceals the doings of the North's ruling dynasty, Kim Jong-il - who succeeded his father and state founder Kim Il-sung in 1994 is believed to have had children with at least three wives. -Reuters