By Choi Sung-jin

The Defense Ministry denied a rumor Friday that a suicide bomber has killed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. A foreign Internet site spread the rumor.

"As far as we know, that is not true," a ministry spokesman said during a press briefing. "The intelligence authorities believe the rumor has low credibility."

Asked whether Kim is alive, the official said: "We presume so."

A Unification Ministry official also said, "You can judge it by comments about the reliability of the Internet media company (the East Asia Tribune)," presuming it has produced a "fake news item" related to the North Korean leader.

Earlier, the East Asia Tribune, quoting a report by Korean Central TV (KCTV), said: "A women exploded a bomb while Kim Jong-un was attending an event held in Botonggang District in Pyongyang, and Kim was carried to hospital but was dead on arrival."

But KCTV has broadcast no such report.