south korean -- a south korean news organization is reporting that north korean television is saying that north korean leader kim jong-il has died. pyongyang again, state television making that announcement. that's according to south korean, a south korean news organization. this is a live picture and that's all, am i correct, that the north korean television is showing. they just have a picture up of kim jong-il. they say that the veteran leader died at about 8:30 a.m. on december 17th and that the announcement was made by a weeping announcer on television. but this is all north korean television is showing is just a picture of the supreme leader kim jong-il. so there are news organizations there that are reporting that kim jong-il has died. our international wing of cnn working on information. we will get more to you within this broadcast. but again, this is what's being reported. north korean leader kim jong-il has died. cnn checking to verify all of that information. make sure you stay with us. >>> we want to go to the philippines where the death toll is rising rapidly from a dev

this complex combines south korean investment and technology with cheap north korean labor. 123 southanies work out of the complex. they mainly manufacture things like clothes, electronics and utensils. 707 south koreans work at the kason complex. they did leave work early today after the news came out. south korea says the north has assured that the facility will remain open and operating normally tomorrow. as for everyday life in north korea, i was very curious about this. i spoke with the director of "daily nk" that covers north korea. he said the monthly wage of a family in north korea is between $3.00 to $20 per month, and there's also something called the informal market where mostly women sell products like appliances, clothes, electronics from china, south korea and japan. it's these women who bring in most of the money to an average household because 80% of workers in government-run factories and facilities actually don't even get paid. it's very clear it's a difficult life in north korea and very much an economy that has a long way to go. >> we also talked about the isolatio

inter-korean relations were badly strained last year after north korea allegedly sank a south korean naval vessel and shelled a south korean island. but the two sides resumed contact this year, which included high-level talks on the nuclear issue in the autumn. but the news of kim's death is likely to slow down dialogues to rebuild trust between the two countries. experts in south korea say the possibility of sudden political unrest in the north is slim. but the south korean government plans to closely watch the impact of kim's death which came as the north tries to consolidate the power of his son, kim jong un. >> thanks, anna. >>> next we go to beijing, where our kango komodo has spent the day gathering reaction. >> reporter: the north korean embassy in beijing has beijing has its flag at half staff. the north koreans going in and out of the embassy said they couldn't believe kim jong il was dead. chinese police are keeping a close watch on reporters around the embassy. china's state media have reported kim's death without commentary. >> translator: north korea is a poor country. i

the north koreans call it dutcha 100, and april of 2012 is his 100th birthday, and the north korean officialra has been the country should be a powerful and prosperous country, and the powerful they've got because they've got nukes, so the emphasis was on the prosperous, so you had these indications of focusing on the economy, so i actually came away with a sense that it was a little bit more relaxed and a little bit more open to being open than it had been before, and it's very hard to interpret what that means, and it may well be in this period of national tragedy and crisis that the north koreans will tighten things up again, which is a natural response, but there were these very interesting vibes that were significantly different from the conventional picture of north korea that a lot of people have. >> fascinating insight from north korean watcher there. you're watching cnn with our continuing breaking news coverage of the death of kim jong il. we'll have more after the break. >>> welcome to our breaking news coverage. north korean leader kim jong il is dead. a state-run news agency, kc

korean ship. and the chinese tried to split it down the middle and to call on all sides to show restraint. this had the effect o of enflamg the public opinion in the state that is by any mesh measure. of what happens in the fumenter would be the success store state. i think maybe if not for us but maish with themselves the chiefn niece know how to do deeper thinking and how they would see things on the korean pence. pgh i think the creation of thes a positive development between president bush and jung single men. it created a motion of community and a group of penal in that part of the world. they have not basketbal been abo address the multiform that the chinese were aicial to talk to the south coryants and the south koreans anted yach niece as a result of the six pearlt talks. the format has not really been the probably. i would see it as apartment of the solution i don't think the north cory yarch. i don't think they'll w worry we have to g rid of these nuance. >> charlie.har: all roadso thro.

naval -- i'm sorry, the south korean naval ship last year and also the north korean -- of north pyongyangsland. some an attempt by kim jong un to show his credentials, the hardliner north korea is used to in its leadership. the real question is his relationship with the military generals. these are the old men with the medals standing beside kim jong-il. how is he going to establish his authority there and most crucially his relationship with his own uncle, the husband of kim jong-il's sister. he's also seen as a power broker behind the scenes. it's going to be critical going forward. >> i want to ask you about the relationship between china and north korea. it is very close, dates back six decades. why are these two countries such close allies? despite the smiles and hugs for the camera, is there suspicion and concern on both sides? this relationship is very close. china played a key role in getting north korea to the table for the six-party talks, china being instrumental in bringing those parties together. as they say it's a relationship that's been described as close as lips and teeth

korean war. china seemed to exert the most influence over north korea, bringing north korea to the negotiating table with the six-party nuclear talks. but remember, china has influence but it does not control north korea. north korea has caused strains in that relationship before, particularly with the nuclear tests in 2006, 2009. china concerned about its own border. there are a lot of people who fled across that border. around 30,000 refugees. here at the moment china very concerned that any implosion in north korea could see more of those people heading for the border. now kim jong eun has been brought here in the past by his father to get the chinese leader's approval. they are now going to see if he can be the leader in north korea that china needs. >> we'll learn a lot more about kim jong eun in the coming days. but let's back up for a moment, stan, right now. what do we know specifically about kim jong il's death? we know he had been ill several years, but over the past year i at least got

north korea shells the south korean island, killing two south korean marines and two civilians.firing into its waters. there's panic in south korea. and fear that a new war is about to begin. addi adding to the tension, word that the north koreans have improved their capability to make nuclear bombs. >> the size of the enrichment program was stunning. >> even the united states is getting ready for possible conflict. president obama ordered the u.s.s. george washington aircraft carrier to steam toward the korean peninsula. >> what we're seeing is a real display of the fire power that the united states and north korea have. >> this is the environment that bill richardson is entering. he asked me to go with him. >> they invited me because they wanted to send, i believe, a message to the united states and to the world. >> richardson is wrapping up eight years as new mexico's governor, having earlier severed as u.s. ambassador to the united nations and energy secretary. he's been to north korea on several occasions. >> every time i've dealt with them, i try to treat them with respect

the north korean leader died on saturday, according to north korean state media.ed of a massive heart attack. it took them two days to make the announcement a that he h had -- that he had died whilst on a train. an autopsy confirmed the cause of death. we do know the funeral will be held december 28. a period of mourning has been declared from december 20 to december 27. this is being felt around the region and around the world. the south korean president is asking the south koreans on to continue with their daily life, while the government in seoul has raised the military alert to the second level of three levels as well as placing all government workers on an emergency footing. south korea continues to monitor the north, but according to wire reports they say there is no evidence of increased north korean military activity in the light of kim jong il's death. calling for calm too is china. a close ally of north korea. they too will be keeping a very close eye on the situation inside north korea. fearful of any implosion of the regime which is obviously still a w

south koreans are physically larger than north koreans. this is grown up in the last few years. the north koreans have not they have a famine in the late 1990's. there is a good deal of malnutrition. since the russians pulled the plug -- it was still the soviet union in 1991. everybody else adapted. the north koreans have not done anything different. there are a desperately poor country for most people. we are seeing the showpiece of the capital, not the countryside. >> do you think kim jong u n knows that, or has led such a sheltered life that he will believe everything his father's cohorts' told him? "probably does know that. statements attributed to him suggest he wants people to live better. the key is going to be economics. from the late kim jong il -- in 1996, there was a speech. the famine was just the beginning. he said his father told him not to worry about the economy. concentrate on the party and the army. that is what matters. it is as if he does not get economics. it is a science. but i think kim jong alone -- kim jong un does know. it could do him some good, quite

korean ship. and the chinese tried to split it down the middle and to call on all sides to show restraint. this had the effect o of enflamg the public opinion in the state that is by any mesh measure. of what happens in the fumenter would be the success store state. i think maybe if not for us but maish with themselves the chiefn niece know how to do deeper thinking and how they would see things on the korean pence. pgh i think the creation of thes a positive development between president bush and jung single men. it created a motion of community and a group of penal in that part of the world. they have not basketbal been abo address the multiform that the chinese were aicial to talk to the south coryants and the south koreans anted yach niece as a result of the six pearlt talks. the format has not really been the probably. i would see it as apartment of the solution i don't think the north cory yarch. i don't think they'll w worry we have to g rid of these nuance. >> charlie.har: all roadso thro.

the north koreans call it juche 100.uche is the national ideally of self-reliance invented by kim il-sung. the official mantra has been that the country should be a powerful and prosperous country. and the powerful they have got because they have got nukes. the emphasis was on the prospero prosperous. so you had the indications of focusing on the economy. i came away with a sense that it was more relaxed and a little bit more open to being open. than it had been before. and i -- it's very hard to interpret what that means, and it may well be in this period f of, you know, national tragedy and crisis that the north koreans will tighten things up again which is a natural response. but there were these very interesting vibes that were significantly different from the conventional picture of north korea that a lot of people have. >> well, fascinating insight there from mike chinoy about north korea's look youth look. and a documentary has been filmed and the flow of refugees is a major concern for pbeijing if there's instabi

korean ship. and the chinese tried to split it down the middle and to call on all sides to show restraint. this had the effect o of enflamg the public opinion in the state that is by any mesh measure. of what happens in the fumenter would be the success store state. i think maybe if not for us but maish with themselves the chiefn niece know how to do deeper thinking and how they would see things on the korean pence. pgh i think the creation of thes a positive development between president bush and jung single men. it created a motion of community and a group of penal in that part of the world. they have not basketbal been abo address the multiform that the chinese were aicial to talk to the south coryants and the south koreans anted yach niece as a result of the six pearlt talks. the format has not really been the probably. i would see it as apartment of the solution i don't think the north cory yarch. i don't think they'll w worry we have to g rid of these nuance. >> charlie.har: all roadso thro.

but unification could occur without the south korean ascent because, as you point out, the north koreaneople just might drive it. and because of this, and both people in washington and beijing know this is going to be a difficult situation and united states has tried to talk to china about this but the chinese don't want to talk to us about this. china might act on its own to absorb south korea. >> china might act on its own. the kid of kim jong il might try to squeeze a shot out at south korea. >> it's extremely dangerous because anything can happen. if the north koreaens commit a provocation against the south koreans or against us, china could be drawn into a conflict that starts on the korean peninsula. >> stay on the line for a moment. what does kim jong il's death mean for the united states and our relationship with the hermit nation, north korea? steve centanni live in washington, d.c. with the details. good morning to you, steve. >> good morning, steve. it's certainly a game changer. the problem is we don't know what the game is going to be and what their rules are going to be th

goes back to the korean war when chinese fighters fought alongside north korean forces.that china exerts the most influence over north korea than any other country on earth. that said it has not always been smooth sailing in his relationship. the nuclear tests in 2006, and 2009, put strains on the ties between china and north korea, some analysts saying they spit in the eye of china. china, always blocked sanctions. actually agreed after the nuclear tests nthat said, they'e been able to gring north korea to the table for the six-party talks. provides the bulk of fuel, food and trade to north korea and is absolutely crucial in this moment of uncertainty that china works to create more stability in that region, and that's is what a statement said today. expressed grief. sent its condolences described kim jong-il as a great leader of socialism saying it's important to work towards stability. >> said to be north korea's best friend, china. stan grant with that side of the story. stan, thank you. >>> here, the white house says the u.s. is staying in "constant up touch" with a

state media praised him as a great successor to the north korean leadership. ♪ video show north koreanicials bowing toward the coffin with solemn music playing in the background. north korea's founder kim il-sung died in 1994. kim jong-il took part in a memorial ceremony held just after his father's death. the ceremony to mourn his death was held at the same venue with the same music. this may indicate that the nation's leadership has been handed down to kim jong-un, the third generation, of the kim family. north koreans promoting kim jong-un as its next leader by using a poem to influence public sentiment. korean central television on wednesday aired a five-minute long poem entitled "december in korea." >> the piece describes people overcome with grief on kim jong-il's death. and calls on the public to follow the guidance of kim jong-un. it is the first time his name has been mentioned in a poem. >> december is usually a commemorative month in north korea, because kim jong-il became the country's commander 20 years ago in december. his mother was also born in december. poems and paint

commitment to stability in the korean peninsula. >>> korean americans are also reacting to the deathlos angeles. it has the largest population, i understand, of koreans in the united states. what are people saying? >> reporter: suzanne, i can tell you that the community here is 200,000 strong. the reactions have been misse mixed. not because they're in mourning, but they're wondering what comes next. many people have close ties to core rea. they have family members here, many, especially the older people, remember the impact of the korean war. they're watching this thing very closely, suzanne. we went to a diner this morning. it was interesting to see groups of people gathered around the table at the diners. they were looking at this newspaper and newspapers like this. you can see the headlines talking about the death of this leader. they were also watching the television sets. they were glued listening on their ipods and up to the radio, to radio core rea. we came here to radio korea and we were talking to the associate director. he said that they've been in rolling coverage ever si

the north korean military ran the place for generations. they have to do something to show he's up for the job. my guess is he might precipitate a crisis. >> along those lines geraldo this is just crossing now the associated press wires. the south korean military is declaring an emergency alert following the death of kim jong-il. this is right along the lines of what you and casey are talking about a reaction in south korea. >> i think it is likely as tensions will escalate particularly as the heir apparent tries to solidify his position with the military or some of the people in the military the general decides they don't need this young man to run things. >>> general buchanan hz exercises with the south korean. how problematic is the death of this dictator general do you believe? >> certainly as greg mentioned a couple minutes ago, it's a series of opportunities that can go one way or the other. but lots of concern and understand why everybody is concerned about what might happen good or bad right now. >> we fought a bloody inconclusive c

north koreans greet the passing of their leader as the world awaits the next moves of the recluse i have country. they are embracing the future as they mourn. past. state run media announced the death of kim john-il yesterday. they are now broadcasting the merits of his son, kim john-un. the media has been showing images of people grieving. the central news agency posted an article titled kim jong-il's philosophy and achievements will last forever. it also praises kim jong-un as an outstanding philosophical theorist who wins 100 victories in 100 battles in leading the country's revolution and construction. it says the young kim has made the north into an invincible global military power. the article adds that his philosophy embodies his father's ideas and will, and that he stands at the forefront of the socialist revolution. this is the first time that north korea state media has directly given tribute to kim jong-un. kim jong-il's body will lay in state at kumsusan memorial palace on tuesday. visitors can visit until december 27th. for more insight nhk spoke with former japanese deputy

korean age. >> indeed.till, no matter what, talking about a very young man, who is incredible inexperienced. >> if i add a little bit more. i think that age doesn't really matter here, because if you look around the world, you know, a lot of big inventors, venture capitalists and innovators, they are essentially people in their 20s. and we are also talking about the state system encircled by many experienced officials and military. so i think that age should be -- matter less, i think. >> i'm talking to a professor at the university, and we are looking at these first pictures in from north korean television, if you just joined us. this is the funeral procession of kim jong-il. he died december 17 of a heart attack. what your' seeing here, an incredible military presence at this funeral. we just want to pautz to listen for a moment because people there on the streets are distraught. some suggest that not all of it is genuine. but let's just listen how distressed they are. [ speaking foreign language ] >> so

with a recklessness, the north korean have shelled south korean territory, and last year they missed out right war and now i sinking a south korean -- the risk out right war by sinking a south korean ship. they have developed missiles capable of handling nuclear warheads, so will the death of kim jong il to change all this? >> we hope it will be a turning point. we hope the new leadership will recognize engagement offers are best prospect of improving the lives of north korean people. >> kim jong-il was the leader of the last and most extreme of the world's dictatorships. he was visiting the odd, sometimes gentle and sometimes capable of frightening rages. he seems to be born in russia and was always destined to succeed in his father, but when the soviet union collapsed, russia and no longer propped up north korea, but kim jong il's lifestyle was unchanged. by someone with an iron rule, responsible for the death of thousands, but with these personal idiosyncrasies, love of cognac, beautiful women, hollywood movies, oversized sunglasses. >> for now, an inexperienced 28- year-old contr

is this something that the north korean the new north korean regime however is going to pan out do you think there that's something that they're thinking about because it's been pointed out and you pointed out earlier they have engaged before you know the process is this something that at least one glimmer of hope in all of this. well so certainly if they wanted to take advantage of the the death. toll in order to start moving down a slightly more open past start moving towards release reducing their isolation it would be a very smart move on their part to send a message to the i.a.e.a. and to say that. inspectors would be welcome to come back in in to the country and conversely the most stupid move they could possibly make is another nuclear test explosion here not that that would actually in itself pose a threat to anyone but it would send a very bad sign and it would get the new regime off to the worst possible start john if i can go to you one of the first things that came out of the u.s. state department is that the united states undying loyalty and protection of its ally south ko

the north koreans grieve the passing of thehe leader. north koreans are embracing the future even as the mourn the past. state-run media announced the death of kim jong-il only yesterday. already they're running his successor kim jong-un. the central news agency posted an article saying his achievements will last forever. it also praises kim jong-un as an outstanding theorist who wins 100 victories in 100 battles in leading the country's revolution in construction. the article adds that his philosophy embodies his father's idea and will and he stands at the forefront of the socialist revolution. this is the first time that north korean state media has griffin tribute to kim jong-un. kim jong-il's body will be visited until 27th. he was involved in negotiations north korea for many years. tanaka met. >> translator: i was surprised at the news of his death. there's no reason to believe north korea has solidified its transition of power. we have to keep a close watch on the situation for the time being. i negotiated with north korea behind

they include diplomats station netd north korean capitol. jim kim jong-un have praised him as a great leader to the north korean leadership. video showed north korean officials bowing toward the coffin with solemn music in the background. kim il-sung died in 1994. kim jong-il had a ceremony just after his death. the ceremony was held at the same venue with the same music. this may indicate that the nation's leadership has been handed down to kim jong-un, the third generation of the kim family. the foreign ministers of japan, south korea and china have been watching developments closely. they i have a greed to work together to stabilize the korean peninsula. japanese foreign minister spoke by phone with his counter parts, kim sang juan in south korea and china. he urged them to cooperate closely and share information. he stressed importance of preventing backlash from kim jong-il's death. he said this is an important period for peace. he added that situation must be handled calmly and cautiously. yang said that china is ready to make an activ

south korean pastor kim song un told reporters about a phone conversation with a north korean who lives near the border with china. the pastor heads a group of supporters for north korean defectors staying in china and south korea. the pastor said the north korean told him that the north's authorities have stepped up border patrol to prevent people from defecting to china. he said china has also deployed more troops toua the border. the pastor said many recent defectors to south korea say they doubt the abilities of the new leader kim jong-un's leadership. >> translator: north koreans are feelin anxious. i think there's a possibility of a mass defect. >> the pastor also released video taken in march showing a marketplace in the north korean border city of hyesan. he explained that the chinese yuan was being used at the market indicating that north koreans have lost confidence in its own currency since its redenomination in 2009. 20,000 people have fled north korea to live in the south since the 1990s. the number of defectors has drastically increased over the past decade. the reason the

and they need that the koreans wanted but the koreans are also scared to death that they're going to become a wholly owned subsidiary of china so it's a problematic relationship for korea too they want the chinese investment they want the chinese political support but they don't want to be owned and operated by china and they suspect all great powers so this is the dance these are the lines that all those countries are walking right now you know john i want to go to you i think one of the interesting things to me is that one of the first things i heard. with the announcement of the death of kim jong il is that it was interesting from the south koreans that the south korean government said that we should be prepared to save money for eventual you unification and that's the flip side here because jim was pointing out the they don't want to the south doesn't want to no one wants to see north korea as being a subsidiary of china ok but then on the flip side if we did have some kind of negotiated and i'm really looking far out here negotiated end to the division in the on the peninsula th

>> from the north korean broadcast, it seems that things went well. the north koreans did more or less what they did in 1994 when he died so they could demonstrate to the international community and to its people that the system was functioning well. >> by seeing the faces of the people attending the funeral, do you get any sense of who could be doing what in the new regime? >> okay. we could find out the fact that there are two key figures supporting kim jong-un. one was the vice marshall lee hlee-ho who was walking on the opposite side of the car from kim jong-un and the other was mr. jiang song thaek who was walking directly behind kim jong-un. lee has the same position as kim jong-un, as vice chairman of the central military commission. and actually he's 69 years old, the same age as kim jong-il. so he would be acting as kim jong-un's personal guardian. the other person, mr. jang song thaek is kim jong-un's uncle-in-law and he has positions both in politburo of the party and central military commission. so these two people will be there playing an