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North Korea seeks extradition of suspects in Kim Jong Un 'assassination attempt'

By Elizabeth Shim
North Korea’s vice foreign minister said Thursday the country would extradite foreign suspects tied to an "assassination attempt" on Kim Jong Un. File Photo by How Hwee Young/EPA
North Korea’s vice foreign minister said Thursday the country would extradite foreign suspects tied to an "assassination attempt" on Kim Jong Un. File Photo by How Hwee Young/EPA

May 11 (UPI) -- North Korea said it would extradite suspects who were planning to assassinate leader Kim Jong Un.

The message from Pyongyang's Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol follows an announcement last week from the country's state security ministry, claiming the CIA and South Korea's National Intelligence Service were plotting "to hurt the supreme leadership" of North Korea.

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On Thursday, Han called all foreign diplomats in Pyongyang to discuss the "conspiracy," according to state-controlled news agency KCNA.

"These terrorists plotted and planned in detail for the use of biochemical substances, including radioactive and poisonous substances as the means of assassination," Han read from a statement. "These biochemical substances were to be provided with the assistance of the CIA...while the South Korean Intelligence Service was to provide necessary support and funding for this attempt at assassination on our supreme leader."

North Korea has yet to provide proof of foul play, but KCNA said the CIA and other "man-killing groups" were behind a plot to bribe a North Korean citizen in Russia.

Pyongyang has claimed the suspect, identified by his surname Kim, was stationed in Khabarovsk, Russia, in June 2014, when CIA and NIS agents approached him.

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The criminal was exposed, Han said, but the plan is to "punish the organizers, conspirators and followers of this terrible state-sponsored terrorism" through extradition, according to Sky News.

North Korea's head of intelligence said last week more than 80 planned terrorist attacks were foiled.

Neither the CIA nor the NIS has commented on the claims.

On Wednesday, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said the agency is creating the Korea Mission Center to deal with North Korea's weapons program.

"Creating the Korea Mission Center allows us to more purposefully integrate and direct CIA efforts against the serious threats to the United States and its allies emanating from North Korea," Pompeo said.

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