Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, was killed in a chemical attack at Kuala Lumpur airport. Photo / AP
Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, was killed in a chemical attack at Kuala Lumpur airport. Photo / AP
Two North Korean assassins have been caught plotting to murder the son of Kim Jong Un's half brother, who was killed in a chemical attack at Kuala Lumpur Airport in February.
Citing North Korean sources, South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said seven agents had been involved in a plot tokill Kim Han Sol, nephew of the North Korean dictator, in Beijing.
Two men were arrested by the Chinese Ministry of National Security but it is thought the remaining agents may still be at large.
The Chinese authorities reportedly detected the plot during heightened security measures introduced around the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party in Beijing last month.
The attempt on Kim Han Sol's life comes as two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, remain on trial in Malaysia for killing his father.
Kim Jong Nam died after two women smeared VX nerve gas on his face.
After his father's death, Kim Han Sol went into hiding with his mother and younger sister.
It is possible that Kim Han Sol and his family remained in China under the protection of Beijing, which also extended protection for his father when he was in the country.
With Kim Jong Nam dead, Kim Han Sol is one of the few remaining blood lines to the world's only hereditary communist dynasty.
While only in his 20s, Kim Han Sol appears to be very different to the present leader.
He is likely to have incurred the wrath of his uncle after describing him as a "dictator" in a television interview in 2012. He said his ambition was to help the people of North Korea.
Indonesian Siti Aisyah, right, and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong second left, are escorted by police at Kuala Lumpur Airport in Malaysia. They are on trial for killing Kim Jong Nam. Photo / AP
