State TV reported the death of the country's 69-year-old 'Dear Leader' on Monday.
Mr Broinowski told SBS that North Korea is 'perpetually looking for opportunities to engage with the West', adding the death will result in a 'seamless transition' of power in the country'.
'The military who are behind the dynasty have known for a long time how sick Kim Jong-il was, and they will have planned for this whole thing. I think there's going to be a state funeral..I think the people in the background are going to control things.'
Mr Broinowski said China is an important ally for Pyongyang and will probably send a delegation to a funeral, and may not be alone in doing so.
'I wouldn't be surprised if quite a lot of the ASEAN countries are going to be there too...North Korea does not so much have allies but opportunistic friends who are going to be there.'
The opportunism may not be one way, Mr Broinowski said.
'Wouldn't it be a wonderful idea if the Americans were to say "this is an opportunity to have fresh discussions with the North Koreans."'
'What if (US Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton were to go along to a state funeral? Our own foreign minister, Kevin Rudd, who is very hyperactive on the international scene - it would be an opportunity for him to go too, and see if there is any way, any opportunities for restarting discussions with North Korea.'
Mr Broinowski worked as an Australian diplomat in Asian countries including Japan, Burma and the Philippines.
Now an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at Sydney University, Mr Broinowski said Kim's death does not necessarily mean internal conflict and a clash with South Korea and the West, as some have suggested.
'I do not see this is a crisis which is going to destabilise the North Korean regime or necessarily set it on a reckless, hell-bent military adventure with the South.'
In South Korea, there is nervousness, but some feeling that there will eventually be some kind of unification.
'We just hope it is going to be on our terms', Mr Broinowski said of the South Korean attitude.
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