SEOUL - CLOSE aides of North Korea's likely next leader Kim Jong Un failed last week in their attempt to assassinate his eldest brother, who was once their father's heir apparent, said a television report.

Mr Kim's plotters had eliminated the close aides of Mr Kim Jong Nam back in North Korea before making their move on the 38-year-old who resided in Macau, Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) of South Korea reported on Monday, citing Chinese government sources.

'It seems they tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam without telling Kim Jong Il,' the sources were quoted as saying.

They were referring to the paramount leader of North Korea, who is believed to be in ill health and has recently named his 26-year-old third son as successor.

The assassination plan was foiled when the Chinese government found out about it early last week, the South's Chosun Ilbo reported on Tuesday.

'The Chinese government warned North Korea to stop the attempt, and sent intelligence and military officers to Macau and spirited Kim Jong Nam to a safe place,' the sources said.

China was protecting Mr Kim Jong Nam because he had developed friendships with high-ranking Chinese officials for a long time, the sources pointed out. KBS said he is likely to seek asylum in China.

Earlier, reports said that he remained in Macau because he feared for his life at home, especially after the younger Kim was named the successor.

Mr Kim Jong Nam is believed to be the original heir apparent, but he fell out of favour in 2001 after getting himself into a widely reported incident that brought embarrassment to his father.

Read the full report in Sunday's edition of the Straits Times