By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

A Japanese daily released a photo of a North Korean male donning a suit Tuesday, identifying him as North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong-un, the third son of sitting leader Kim Jong-il.

But an official of the Ministry of Unification denied the report, commenting that the man in the photo looked instead like an executive of the Kim Chaek Iron and Steel Complex.

The official told reporters on condition of anonymity that the same man had been in the previous photos taken in February and December of last year and March of this year when Kim Jong-il had visited the complex.

"Given that fact, the Unification Ministry assumes that he is someone who works at the complex," the official said.

Another government source said that the man in the photo released by Mainichi Shimbun, the Japanese newspaper, appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, much older than the North's heir apparent. Jong-un is now 26 years old.

The photo in question was taken on March 25 during a visit to the complex by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.