North Korea's longtime leader, has died at 69 of a heart attack, state TV reported on Monday in a "special broadcast."News of Kim's death was made public on Monday, with officials indicating that he actually died two days earlier while riding a train.Reuters notes that the country had begun transferring power to his son, Kim Jong-un, who is believed to be in his late 20s.Footage broadcast on CCTV, China's main news agency, showed interviews with North Koreans barely able to contain their grief, while the tightly government-controlled KCNA described the entire nation as being in "indescribable sorrow".
"I can't believe it. How can he go like this? What are we supposed to do?" one woman in Pyongyang was quoted as saying.The announcement of Kim's death prompted South Korea to place its military on emergency alert, while shares on the stock market in Seoul fell amid uncertainty over the stability of the secretive nuclear-armed nation.North Korea was later reported to have test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
China, considered North Korea's closest ally, said it was shocked to learn of Kim's death.We hereby express our deep condolences on his demise and send sincere regards to the North Korean people," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Kim is believed to have curbed his indulgent ways in recent years and looked slimmer in more recent video footage aired by North Korea's state-run broadcaster.
Kim's marital status wasn't clear but he is believed to have married once and had at least three other companions. He had at least three sons with two women, as well as a daughter by a third.
His eldest son, Kim Jong Nam, 38, is believed to have fallen out of favor with his father after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001 saying he wanted to visit Disney's Tokyo resort.
His two other sons by another woman, Kim Jong Chul and Kim Jong Un, are in their 20s. Their mother reportedly died several years ago.
"I can't believe it. How can he go like this? What are we supposed to do?" one woman in Pyongyang was quoted as saying.The announcement of Kim's death prompted South Korea to place its military on emergency alert, while shares on the stock market in Seoul fell amid uncertainty over the stability of the secretive nuclear-armed nation.North Korea was later reported to have test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
China, considered North Korea's closest ally, said it was shocked to learn of Kim's death.We hereby express our deep condolences on his demise and send sincere regards to the North Korean people," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Kim is believed to have curbed his indulgent ways in recent years and looked slimmer in more recent video footage aired by North Korea's state-run broadcaster.
Kim's marital status wasn't clear but he is believed to have married once and had at least three other companions. He had at least three sons with two women, as well as a daughter by a third.
His eldest son, Kim Jong Nam, 38, is believed to have fallen out of favor with his father after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001 saying he wanted to visit Disney's Tokyo resort.
His two other sons by another woman, Kim Jong Chul and Kim Jong Un, are in their 20s. Their mother reportedly died several years ago.
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