North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il Dead at 69

Son and successor Kim Jong-un far left

Mr Kim, who has led the communist nation since the death of his father in 1994, died on a train while visiting an area outside the capital. He suffered a stroke in 2008 and was absent from public view for months. His designated successor is believed to be his third son, Kim Jong-un, who is thought to be in his late 20s.

North Korea's state-run news agency, KCNA, urged people to unite behind the younger Kim.  "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," the state news agency said.

A funeral for Kim Jong-il will be held in Pyongyang on 28 December and Kim Jong-un will head the funeral committee, KCNA said. A period of national mourning has been declared from the 17th to the 29th of December.   Mr Kim's death will cause huge shock waves across North Korea, an impoverished, nuclear-armed nation with few allies.

He died of a heart attack brought on by mental and physical fatigue. Kim Jong-il had battled serious health problems for many years but his death has come more quickly than many expected.

His apparent heir, his son Kim Jong-un, has been groomed as the successor of the nuclear-armed state for little more than a year. The question now is whether he has the power and authority to fill his father's shoes.

South Korea's military has been put on alert following the announcement and its National Security Council is convening for an emergency meeting. The Japanese government has also convened a special security meeting.  The White House said it was "closely monitoring" reports of the death. The US remained "committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies". South Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak spoke to US President Barack Obama by telephone.The two leaders agreed to closely cooperate and monitor the situation together. Chinese media has reported the death but there has no official reaction from Beijing - North Korea's closest ally and biggest trading party - yet.

Mr Kim inherited the leadership of North Korea - which remains technically at war with South Korea - from his father Kim Il-sung. Shortly after he came to power, a severe famine caused by ill-judged economic reforms and poor harvests left an estimated two million people dead. His regime has been harshly criticized for human rights abuses and is internationally isolated because if its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Under Mr Kim's leadership funds have been channelled to the military and in 2006 North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. It followed that up with a second one three years later. Multinational talks aimed at disarming North Korea have been deadlocked for months.

Mr Kim unveiled his son as his likely successor a year ago. Many had expected to see this process further consolidated in 2012. Very little is known about him - including his exact age. He was educated in Switzerland and is the son of Mr Kim's reportedly favourite wife, the late Ko Yong-hui.
He has an older brother, Kim Jong-chol, and a older half-brother, Kim Jong-nam - both of whom appear to have been passed over for the succession.
 The world watches and waits to see how the new regime will stand on nuclear weapons.