The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) rebutted as a "groundless fabrication" report by some foreign media about removing portraits of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.

"It didn't happen before, and will never happen," Ri Gyong-son, deputy director of Report Bureau of DPRK's Foreign Ministry told Xinhua.

"The words are an intrigue that the United States and its attaching countries want to overthrow the DPRK," Ri added.

"General Kim Jong-il is the fate of the Korean people and the DPRK's socialism, it is unimaginable that DPRK people and army can separate their fates from Kim Jong-il," he said.

"It is nothing but stupid and ridiculous acts just like trying to remove the sun from the sky," he added.

"The adoration for the leader originated from people's life, it will never change," he said.

Foreign media quoted Western diplomats in the DPRK as saying earlier that Kim's portraits had been removed from some public places.

Source: Xinhua