The North Korean ambassador to Italy has gone into hiding with his wife in a possible defection which would shame Kim Jong-un on the world stage, Daily Mail reported.

South Korean intelligence officers told legislators in Seoul on Thursday that Jo Song Gil went into hiding with his wife in November before his term in Italy ended.

The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the envoy had not sought asylum nor had his wife.  

It wasn't immediately clear if the diplomat might have sought asylum from another country's embassy or consulate in Italy.

Ministry officials spoke to the press under strict anonymity rules around such delicate matters. 

South Korean government minister Kim Min-ki said an official from Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared the information during a closed-door briefing.

Kim said the NIS official said that Jo and his wife left the official residence in early November, weeks before his term was to end in late November.

Kim said he couldn't confirm whether the NIS official revealed whether Jo and his wife were accompanied by any children.

The NIS earlier said it couldn't confirm a South Korean media report that Jo was under the protection of the Italian government as he seeks asylum in a Western nation.

Kim said the NIS said it has not been contacted by Jo.

North Korea has not yet commented on Jo's status.