North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has issued special instructions barring any talk of his successor.

Seoul's Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday that Kim recently gave the instructions to ranking officials and his close military aides, saying his enemies are speculating on the topic to slander his regime. Kim told them to strictly crack down on any public discussion on the matter.

He reportedly said that another father-to-son power succession will defame him and his late father Kim Il-sung and make Pyongyang an "international laughingstock."

Kim has three sons from two women.