Reactions to the death of Kim Jong Il

[1] South Korea decided not to offer official condolences, mirroring both worsened relations after the ROKS Cheonan sinking and the bombardment of Yeonpyeong and its position after the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994.

[2] Chinese Foreign Ministry called Kim a "great leader" and added that Beijing would continue to offer its support.

[7] The BBC reported that the Korean Central News Agency said people were convulsing with pain and despair at their loss, but would unite behind his successor Kim Jong Un.

[9] The South's National Security Council, worried that political jockeying in North Korea could destabilise the region, also convened for an emergency meeting.

[5] President Lee Myung-bak cancelled the rest of his Monday schedule and in a statement, declared, "[f]or the sake of the future of the Republic of Korea, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is more important than anything else.