The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has accused South Korea of hiring an agent to track its leader, Kim Jong Il. Pyongyang suggested that the agent was planning an assassination attempt before being arrested.

The Korean Central News Agency broadcast a statement on the DPRK's state television on Thursday. It said the terrorist mission was ordered by a South Korean intelligence organization to harm the top leader.

The statement did not mention Kim by name, but analysts in South Korea said the DPRK's media has previously used similar wording to refer to Kim.