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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a military parade on April 15 in Pyongyang to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung, founder of North Korea and grandfather of incumbent leader. / AP-Yonhap |
By Park Si-soo
North Korea's state media has accused the United States and South Korea of attempting to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un with a "biochemical substance."
In an extraordinarily long, 1,800-word report, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Friday afternoon a "hideous terrorist group" conspired with the CIA and South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) to "commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership" during major events including a recent military parade.
The report claimed a North Korean citizen was involved in the plot, using "biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance" to kill Kim.
The KCNA claimed the plot was "recently uncovered and foiled," and accused members of the CIA and NIS of working with a North Korean citizen to provide money and weapons to carry out "state-sponsored terrorism."
Neither the CIA nor the NIS responded to this report.
In September, South Korea's defense minister said the country was considering launching a special forces unit to assassinate North Korean leader.
The minister said the unit will "take action" if the North shows clear signs of attacking South Korea. The unit was part of the "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation" plan (KMPR), a military response announced after North Korea's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, said the minister.
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