The eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is rumored to have faced an assassination attempt during his visit to Austria last month.

A government source said Sunday that those who conspired to kill him were said to be close to Kim Jong-nam's younger brothers, apparently forces who do want to see Kim succeed the regime. The plot, however, was not implemented, as the Austrian intelligence agency detected the scheme and kept Kim under close protection.

The source, however, added the rumor had been circulating during the past few weeks but it has yet to be confirmed.

The latest hearsay is expected to fuel speculations of a growing infight within the Pyongyang leadership over the communist state's power succession.

Kim Jong-nam, 33, was born out of wedlock from his father's affair with Sung Hae-rim, an actress who died several years ago in Moscow.