North Korea's nuclear threat

The leadership of North Korea seemed to pass to a third generation of the Kim family Monday after the weekend death of Kim Jong Il, who ruled the reclusive Stalinist state since 1994.

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The person known as the "dear leader" died of the heart attack Saturday at age 69, state news outlets announced Monday. The ruling Worker's Party declared the youngest of his three sons, Kim Jong Un, the "great successor" to his father's mantle.

Kim Jong Il had led North Korea since his father -- the nation's founder, Kim Il Sung -- died at 82. Throughout his 17 years in power, the country a break down devastating famine even as it built up its million-strong army, expanded its arsenal of ballistic missiles and became the world's eighth declared nuclear power.

News of his death spurred Columbia, which remains technically at war using the North a lot more than five decades after their 1950-53 conflict, to place its military on high alert. But across one of the world's most heavily fortified borders, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told his citizens "to start their lives" meanwhile.

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"For the sake for the future of the Republic of Korea, peace and stability around the Korean Peninsula is more important than anything else. It shouldn't be threatened by what has happened," he said.

And Kim Young-mok, the South Korean consul in New York, told CNN's "American Morning" that Seoul's top priority would be to avoid "anything troublesome."

"I don't believe that North Korea are able to afford some provocation at this time, but we must make sure that things are OK," he explained.

North Korea tested nuclear weapons in 2006 and 2009. Monday, it fired a short-range missile over the East Sea -- but Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN that U.S. officials have seen no sign of any movement of North Korean forces across the Demilitarized Zone that separates its northern border and South.

North Korean officers had reported plans because of its missile test to the commission that monitors the 1953 armistice, Dempsey said during a trip to Germany. He explained no heightened alert continues to be issued for that nearly 30,000 American troops in South Korea, which has a mutual-defense pact with the United States.

In Washington, the White House said it was monitoring developments and hoped to determine its northern border "take steps to assure the peace and prosperity of its people," as White House spokesman Jay Carney put it.

"Our focus is on coordinating closely with this allies and partners," he said. "We have reaffirmed our unwavering resolve for the stability of the Korean Peninsula and also the security of our allies, South Korea and Japan."

And following a ending up in Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that Washington has been around "close touch" using the other countries involved in the six-party North Korean nuclear talks, including Russia and China.

"We reiterate our hope for improved relations using the people of North Korea, and remain deeply concerned about their wellness," she said.

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Carney said President Barack Obama was notified of Kim's death by his chief of staff about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. "I believe it was established in news reports that the North Koreans made that announcement," Carney said.

On North Korea's state television network, a tearful anchor broke the news Monday morning. The news was followed by scenes of similarly emotional residents of the capital Pyongyang.

"My leader, what's going to we do? It's an excessive amount of! It's too much!" one person sobbed. "Leader, please return. ... You cannot leave us. We will always wait for you, leader."

The network said Kim died of "overwork" while "dedicating his life to the people." And the official news agency KCNA said Kim suffered "great mental and physical strain" during a train.

Kim enjoyed a cult-like status within the nation, with millions schooled to accept him like a divine and benevolent father figure.

Laura Ling, 1 of 2 American journalists arrested after entering North Korea in March 2009 and sentenced to 12 years hard labor before being released in August 2009 following intervention by former President Bill Clinton, told CNN's "AC360" Monday that they was allowed to view television during custody.

Nearly every broadcast featured images of Kim being an "otherwordly figure," she said, recalling her guards were "moved to tears watching their 'Dear Leader,' plus they talked about just how much he was doing (for anyone.)" The guards said Kim's health was failing while he worked so difficult for North Koreans, she said.

Her sister, Lisa Ling, filmed a documentary in North Korea while posing as a part of a medical team that performed eye surgeries. In a clip in the documentary, a girl's bandages are removed and she often see the very first time. "It's all due to the Great General," her jubilant father exclaims. "We must bow to the Great General with this."

There is no independent confirmation of the circumstances reported through the government, which routinely touted the military, technological and artistic genius of the "dear leader" -- even claiming he shot 11 holes in a single in the first golf outing. But he had appeared frail in his last public appearances, and speculation about his health had persisted for a while.

KCNA acknowledged that Kim have been treated for "cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases for a long period." He a break down heart attack on Saturday and couldn't be saved regardless of the use of "every possible first-aid measure," according to the agency.

In Washington, the White House said Obama spoke with Lee on Monday morning. The 2 leaders agreed to stay in "close touch as the situation develops," it said.

Several of North Korea's neighbors, including Japan, the Philippines and leading ally China, offered condolences to the North Korean people on Kim's death. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited its northern border Korean embassy in Beijing Tuesday to provide condolences, according to the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.

Monday night, Secretary of State Clinton issued a statement acknowledging the "period of national mourning" in North Korea.

"We are deeply worried about the wellness from the North Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with them during these difficult times," the statement said.

"It is our hope that the new leadership of the (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honoring North Korea's commitments, improving relations with its neighbors and respecting the rights of its people," Clinton said. "The Usa stands ready to assist the North Korean people and urges the brand new leadership to work with the international community to usher in a new trend of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean Peninsula."

Earlier, Christopher Hill, a former U.S. diplomat who led U.S. delegation in nuclear talks with North Korea, said any American statement would need a certain finesse.

"I'd be very careful about issuing condolences on the death of someone who's really been part of one of the very tyrannical regimes in the world," Hill told CNN. "On another hand, I think something can be done which will show some sympathy to the North Koreans."

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The deceased leader's body will stay for a week at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, where his father can also be interred. Memorial services follows on December 28 and 29.

Bill Richardson, an old U.S. ambassador to the Un who has visited North Korea eight times, said his initial a reaction to Kim's death was "extreme concern." He explained he is more worried about stability in the area now than before Kim's death.

"The peninsula is a tinderbox," said Richardson, that has brokered diplomatic deals within the North. "The concern is, will there be stability in the North Korean leadership? Will they continue their recent efforts of engaging South Korea and the Usa over food aid, over nuclear talks?"

Richardson said Columbia was to continue alert -- "but I believe its time for you to just lie low, watch things as they develop."

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During Kim's tenure, its northern border was largely closed on outside influences and fearful of threats from its neighbors. Simultaneously, additionally, it sought international aid after extensive famines contributed to the deaths of at least 250,000 people, according to the North Korean government. Outside analysts suggested the toll could have been Ten times higher.

Both North Korea and Columbia have shown signs and symptoms of concession recently. But relations between the two rival nations soured yet again once the South accused northern launching a panic attack around the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean marines and 2 civilians.

And South Korea says a North Korean torpedo attack ended up being to blame for the 2010 sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, which left 46 Southern sailors dead. The North has denied the accusation.

The question is what path his untested son, thought to be either 27 or 28, will take the nation. He was educated in Switzerland as a boy, and named a four-star general in 2010.

"We really do not know substantively where he stands on anything," said Mike Chinoy, a senior fellow at the U.S.-China Institute.

Kim Young-mok said its northern border has generated up its military and pursued a nuclear bomb "while youngsters are starving."

"This leads to a large amount of human disasters," he said. "So what worries me isn't this Kim Jong Un's personality, however the priority from the North Korean leadership."

After the Cheonan incident, then-U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he feared the younger Kim might have needed to "earn his stripes" with Pyongyang's military establishment by launching further provocations.

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And Hill said as the "great successor" is "definitely not ready for prime time," he's unlikely to take major steps before consolidating his power.

"I think we're type of shifting, at least for the time being, to a kind of military junta," he said, adding, "I would expect that they'll attempt to show a maximum of stability as they go through what's obviously likely to be a really difficult and dicey time on their behalf."