China urges stability in wake of Kim Jong Il's death

BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese officials Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang offered their condolences on the death of DPRK leader Kim Jong Il at the Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing Wednesday.

All are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The other four members of the Standing Committee have also been to the DPRK Embassy to mourn Kim Jong Il's death.？ Full story

DPRK top leader passes away from mental, physical strain

PYONGYANG, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), passed away last Saturday at the age of 69, the DPRK's official KCNA news agency reported Monday.

Kim, who was general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), died "from a great mental and physical strain at 08:30 (2330 GMT Friday) on Dec. 17, 2011, on a train during a field guidance tour," said the report.？？？Full story

S Korea on alert following Kim Jong Il's death

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea is put on high alert Monday following reports that Kim Jong Il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), died at the age of 69 of a heart attack.

Immediately after the DPRK's KCNA news agency reported that Kim died Saturday on a train, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened the National Security Council (NSC) to discuss follow-up measures with Cabinet ministers including the foreign minister and the defense chief.？？？Full story

Japan hopes Kim's death has no negative impact on Korean Peninsula security

TOKYO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua)-- Japan hopes DPRK leader Kim Jong Il's death has no negative impact on Korean Peninsula security, and strengthens preparations for contingencies, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told an emergency news conference on Monday after Kim's death was reported.

Fujimura said Japan was aware of Kim's death through DPRK's TV broadcast and will keep an eye on next U.S.-DPRK contact.？？？Full story

U.S. in close touch with S. Korea, Japan over Kim Jong Il's death: White House

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The White House said late Sunday that the United States is in close touch with South Korea and Japan over the death of Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and remains committed to stability on the Korean Peninsula.

"We are closely monitoring reports that Kim Jong Il is dead," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.？？？