SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean military and people have pledged to follow the leadership of the late leader's heir apparent Kim Jong-un to carry on the legacy of the communist state, its state media said Monday, amid growing uncertainty over the power transition.The North's state media

North Korea was unlikely to make any dramatic policy changes concerning its relations with South Korea for the time being following the death of its leader Kim Jong-il, experts said Monday.With the third-generation power succession process yet to be completed, North Korea is likely to prioritize stabilizing the country in the aftermath of the leader’s death and focus on domestic issues to facilitate the power transfer, they said.Some said that Seoul might see an opportunity to foster a conciliat

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government has made no decision on whether to express condolences on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, a senior official at the foreign ministry said Monday. President Lee Myung-bak was holding an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeti

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul government set up an emergency economic monitoring center Monday to help minimize possible impact from growing regional uncertainties stemming from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death.The move came hours after the North's state media reported that Kim died Sa

President Lee Myung-bak called on South Koreans on Monday to remain calm and focus on their usual business without being shaken by the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, his office said.The statement came after Lee held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council."The government wil

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Monday to work closely together to cope with the aftermath of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, an official said.In a telephone call around 2 p.m., the two leaders agreed that the two allies will keep a close wat

South Korean lawmakers held emergency meetings of various committees to discuss the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and how to cope with its aftermath.The North's state media reported earlier in the day that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack on Saturday. South Korea's military has

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- The sudden death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il triggered speculation over whether his heir-apparent son, Kim Jong-un, will take over the country as planned.Kim Jong-un has been groomed as the leader-in-waiting since last year when he was named vice chairman of the Cen

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ Kim Jong Il, the mercurial and enigmatic North Korean leader whose iron rule and nuclear ambitions dominated world security fears for more than a decade, has died. He was 69.Kim's death 17 years after he inherited power from his father was announced Monday by the state tele

Australia on Monday said it was critical governments exercised calm and restraint after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, while urging Pyongyang to engage with the global community.The North's state media, in a shock announcement, reported Monday that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart

TOKYO, Dec 19, 2011 (AFP) - Japan called an emergency security meeting Monday to formulate its reaction to news of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.Minutes after the noon broadcast by Pyongyang's official media, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda cancelled a speech and rushed back to

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak ordered Monday all government officials to be placed on emergency response status, following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Under the order, all government officials are restricted from taking leave or traveling and required to mainta

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States was Sunday "closely monitoring" reports on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death and said it was committed to stability on the Korean peninsula and the security of its allies.Kim's death, announced by North Korea's official media, posed an immediate and grave f