North Korea's Kim Jong-Il dies
2011-12-19 06:26
Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died aged 69 of
a heart attack, state media announced on Monday, plunging the impoverished but
nuclear-armed nation into uncertainty amid a second dynastic succession.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the
leader "passed away from a great mental and physical strain" at 08:30
on Saturday (23:30 GMT on Friday), while on a train for one of his "field
guidance" tours.
It urged people to follow his youngest son and heir
apparent Kim Jong-Un, who is aged in his late 20s and until last year had no
public profile.
"All party members, military men and the public should
faithfully follow the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-Un and protect and further
strengthen the unified front of the party, military and the public," said
the news agency and a weeping black-clad TV announcer.
KCNA said Kim died of a "severe myocardial infarction
along with a heart attack". It said an autopsy was performed on Sunday.
The leader suffered a stroke in August 2008 which left him
with impaired movement in his left arm and leg.
His funeral will be held on December 28 in Pyongyang but no
foreign delegations will be invited, KCNA said. A period of national mourning
was declared from December 17 to 29.
South Korea placed all troops on emergency alert after the
shock news, the South's Yonhap news agency reported. It summoned a meeting of
the National Security Council and President Lee Myung-Bak cancelled all his
schedules.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had increased monitoring
along the border along with US forces in the country but no unusual activity
had been observed.
North and South Korea have remained technically at war
since their three-year Korean conflict ended only in an armistice in 1953.
KCNA, quoting a statement from the national funeral
committee headed by Jong-Un, said Kim Jong-Il's body would lie in state in
Kumsusan palace where his father's embalmed body is on display.
It said mourners would be allowed to visit the body from
December 20 to 27.
