China offered its “deep condolences” on the death of North Korean leader
China offered its “deep condolences” on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, which analysts said will spur Beijing to boost ties with Pyongyang to prevent instability.
China is a neighbor and close ally of the isolated Stalinist state, whose official media announced on Monday that its leader had died of a heart attack at the age of 69 and that his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un, would succeed him.
Analysts said Kim’s death would be a source of concern to stability-obsessed leaders in Beijing who would be anxious that Kim Jong-Un has not had enough time to secure control over the country’s government and military.
“I think China will be very concerned because they were very keen to see a smooth succession between Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-Un,” said Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, a Beijing-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“The idea was Kim Jong-Il would be around for another couple of years and would be able to fully put into place the mechanisms necessary for a transition of power.”
Chinese leaders will be keen to avoid a power struggle in Pyongyang which could destabilise the impoverished country at a time when many of its 24 million people are starving, analysts said.
UN agencies have said that some six million people in the country urgently need food but a $73 million appeal for North Korea has only been 34 percent funded this year.
More than 21,700 North Koreans have fled their impoverished homeland since the 1950-1953 Korean War, the vast majority in recent years as the food shortage worsened.
They typically escape on foot to neighboring China before travelling to a third country. Beijing is worried that if the North Korea regime were to collapse the country could be flooded with refugees.
The last reported visit by Kim Jong-Il to China was in August, when he told Beijing he was ready to resume six-party nuclear talks without preconditions, as he travelled through the Asian country.
But analysts said Kim’s sudden death on Monday has dashed hopes of talks resuming any time soon.
Source AFP