Hopes for fresh diplomacy

WORLD governments are viewing the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il with wary optimism.

It is seen as a possibly destabilising moment for the region as power passes to his son but also an opportunity for a new diplomatic start. The news jolted financial markets.

During his 17 years in power, Kim’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and his military’s repeated threats to South Korea and the US stoked fears that war might again break out or that North Korea might provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorist movements.

South Korea put its military on “high alert” and president Lee Myung-bak convened a national security council meeting.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held an emergency security council soon after hearing the news.

Australia’s foreign minister Kevin Rudd said Kim’s death brings the situation to “one of those critical junctures” and “an exceptionally difficult period of transition”.

British foreign secretary William Hague said: “This could be a turning point for North Korea” as Kim Jong Un takes over. “We encourage North Korea to work for peace and security in the region”, he added.

In China, a key ally, the foreign ministry called Kim a “great leader” and said China believes the North Korean people will “turn their grief into strength, unite as one, and continue to advance the cause of North Korean socialism”.

But it added that Beijing would continue to offer its support and make “active contributions to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula”.