Asia reacts to Kim Jong il's death
- 12 years ago
Japanese prime minister Yoshihiro Noda reacts to news of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death.
(SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA SAYING:
"We must make sure that this sudden event does not adversely affect the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula."
Japan is bracing itself for the unexpected following the news, with security tight at the Tokyo headquarters of Pyongyang's de facto diplomatic mission.
The country has around 400,000 permanent residents who are ethnic Koreans backing either Seoul or Pyongyang.
Ties between Tokyo and Pyongyang have often been fraught over the former's colonial history, the latter's nuclear program and the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents.
In China, a foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was distressed to hear of Kim's death.
He called Kim a 'close friend' of China and a great leader who who strengthened relations between the two countries.
He added that China remained confident that North Korea would remain stable and continue pursuing socialist policies.
In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his priority was to extend his sympathies to the North Korean people.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) INDONESIA FOREIGN MINISTER MARTY NATALEGAWA, SAYING:
"And at the same time hope that the people of North Korea will be able to overcome this particularly difficult time for them, and for their aspiration to be properly channelled and therefore ther commitment to peace and stability in the region to be continuously enhanced."
The north Korean leader died on Saturday following a heart attack on a train.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
(SOUNDBITE)(Japanese) JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA SAYING:
"We must make sure that this sudden event does not adversely affect the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula."
Japan is bracing itself for the unexpected following the news, with security tight at the Tokyo headquarters of Pyongyang's de facto diplomatic mission.
The country has around 400,000 permanent residents who are ethnic Koreans backing either Seoul or Pyongyang.
Ties between Tokyo and Pyongyang have often been fraught over the former's colonial history, the latter's nuclear program and the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents.
In China, a foreign ministry spokesman said Beijing was distressed to hear of Kim's death.
He called Kim a 'close friend' of China and a great leader who who strengthened relations between the two countries.
He added that China remained confident that North Korea would remain stable and continue pursuing socialist policies.
In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his priority was to extend his sympathies to the North Korean people.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) INDONESIA FOREIGN MINISTER MARTY NATALEGAWA, SAYING:
"And at the same time hope that the people of North Korea will be able to overcome this particularly difficult time for them, and for their aspiration to be properly channelled and therefore ther commitment to peace and stability in the region to be continuously enhanced."
The north Korean leader died on Saturday following a heart attack on a train.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters