China has stressed that a recent Japanese daily report claiming that the youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited Beijing is false.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang denied Japan's Asahi Shimbun report, saying the contents of the article are false. During Thursday's regular press briefing, the spokesman said the ministry is keeping watch on news reports related to Kim Jong-un, but the latest reports have been like reading 007 spy stories.

Qin had said earlier during Tuesday's press briefing that he was not aware of the younger Kim's visit to China. The spokesman said Thursday that the Japanese must have understood his implications, adding that he is curious to see what they will write next.