Saifullah Sani
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LONDON The death of Kim Jong-il plunged diplomats, military strategists and political leaders among its neighbors and much further afield into a state of anxiety and uncertainty on Monday as they awaited some signal on isolated North Koreas nuclear intentions and its handling of the succession.
The response was colored by the secretive nature of the regime in Pyongyang which while grooming Mr. Kims youngest son, King Jong-un, as the heir-apparent, allowed little of substance to be known about him.
Even as state media in Pyongyang referred to Kim Jong-un as the great successor, Japan said it hoped Kim Jong-ils death does not have an adverse effect on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula. A brief statement from the Chinese authorities whose reaction to potential turmoil in North Korea could dominate the regional response offered deep condolences, news reports said.
In South Korea, the military went on high alert as President Lee Myung-bak called for calm and urged residents to pursue their normal lives, news reports said. President Lee was reported to have spoken to allies in Washington and Japan to coordinate their response.
Chinas Xinhua news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxou as saying Beijing was distressed to learn of the death. We express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea.
Mr. Ma praised Mr. Kim as a great leader who made "important contributions" to relations with China. We are confident that the North Korean people will be able to turn their anguish into strength and unify as one, Reuters reported.
China and North Korea will strive together to continue making positive contributions to consolidating and developing the traditional friendship between our two parties, governments and peoples and to preserving the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region.
The measured Chinese response, offering continued support, was significant because the Pyongyang regime depends on China in its diplomacy and for help with food and fuel to support its crippled economy. In the months before his death, Mr. Kim traveled to China twice, most recently in August.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference: "We hope this sudden event does not have an adverse effect on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula, Reuters reported after a hastily called ministerial meeting on security.
Prime Minister Noda told members of the security meeting to strengthen information-gathering efforts, work closely and share information with relevant states including the United States, South Korea and China, and to prepare for any unexpected circumstances. The government hopes to take appropriate action as needed, Mr. Fujimura said.
But he added that government leaders at the security meeting had not decided whether to raise the level of alert for Japans military, according to Reuters.
I ordered each division within the ministry to do their utmost in information gathering and in staying vigilant and watchful, a Defense Ministry spokesman quoted Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa as saying.
Japan has no diplomatic ties with North Korea and the relationship is strained by distrust dating to Japans 35-year occupation of the Korean peninsula in the 20th century, ending in 1945.
Like others in the region, Japan is also worried by the unpredictability and risks surrounding north Koreas nuclear capabilities. Efforts to normalize relations have been stalled for years over the emotional issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
After the announcement of Mr. Kims death, Asian stocks fell and European stocks were forecast to follow suit.
In Australia, Treasurer Wayne Swan, who is also the acting prime minister, urged North Korea to act more responsibly both domestically and internationally, Bloomberg News said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/world/asia/kim-jong-ils-death-inspires-anxiety.html
The response was colored by the secretive nature of the regime in Pyongyang which while grooming Mr. Kims youngest son, King Jong-un, as the heir-apparent, allowed little of substance to be known about him.
Even as state media in Pyongyang referred to Kim Jong-un as the great successor, Japan said it hoped Kim Jong-ils death does not have an adverse effect on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula. A brief statement from the Chinese authorities whose reaction to potential turmoil in North Korea could dominate the regional response offered deep condolences, news reports said.
In South Korea, the military went on high alert as President Lee Myung-bak called for calm and urged residents to pursue their normal lives, news reports said. President Lee was reported to have spoken to allies in Washington and Japan to coordinate their response.
Chinas Xinhua news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxou as saying Beijing was distressed to learn of the death. We express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea.
Mr. Ma praised Mr. Kim as a great leader who made "important contributions" to relations with China. We are confident that the North Korean people will be able to turn their anguish into strength and unify as one, Reuters reported.
China and North Korea will strive together to continue making positive contributions to consolidating and developing the traditional friendship between our two parties, governments and peoples and to preserving the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the region.
The measured Chinese response, offering continued support, was significant because the Pyongyang regime depends on China in its diplomacy and for help with food and fuel to support its crippled economy. In the months before his death, Mr. Kim traveled to China twice, most recently in August.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a news conference: "We hope this sudden event does not have an adverse effect on the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula, Reuters reported after a hastily called ministerial meeting on security.
Prime Minister Noda told members of the security meeting to strengthen information-gathering efforts, work closely and share information with relevant states including the United States, South Korea and China, and to prepare for any unexpected circumstances. The government hopes to take appropriate action as needed, Mr. Fujimura said.
But he added that government leaders at the security meeting had not decided whether to raise the level of alert for Japans military, according to Reuters.
I ordered each division within the ministry to do their utmost in information gathering and in staying vigilant and watchful, a Defense Ministry spokesman quoted Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa as saying.
Japan has no diplomatic ties with North Korea and the relationship is strained by distrust dating to Japans 35-year occupation of the Korean peninsula in the 20th century, ending in 1945.
Like others in the region, Japan is also worried by the unpredictability and risks surrounding north Koreas nuclear capabilities. Efforts to normalize relations have been stalled for years over the emotional issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
After the announcement of Mr. Kims death, Asian stocks fell and European stocks were forecast to follow suit.
In Australia, Treasurer Wayne Swan, who is also the acting prime minister, urged North Korea to act more responsibly both domestically and internationally, Bloomberg News said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/world/asia/kim-jong-ils-death-inspires-anxiety.html
