North Koreans have marched by the thousands to their capital's landmarks to mourn Kim Jong-il, many crying uncontrollably and flailing their arms in grief over news of the death of their 'Dear Leader'.
North Korean state media proclaimed his twentysomething son, Kim Jong-un, a "great successor", while a vigilant world watched for any signs of a turbulent transition to the untested leader in an unpredictable nation known to be pursuing nuclear weapons.
South Korea's military went on high alert in the face of the North's 1.2 million-strong armed forces following news of Kim's death after 17 years in power. North Korea said Kim died of a heart attack, "complicated with a serious heart shock", on Saturday while carrying out official duties on a train trip. President Barack Obama agreed by phone with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to closely monitor developments.
On the streets of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, people wailed in grief, some kneeling on the ground or bowing repeatedly. Children and adults laid flowers at key memorials.
A tearful Kim Yong-ho said Kim Jong-il had made people's lives happier. "That is what he was doing when he died: working, travelling on a train," he said.
Other North Koreans walked in line past a giant painting of Kim Jong-il and his late father, national founder Kim Il-sung, standing together on Mount Paektu, Kim Jong-il's official birthplace. Wreaths were neatly placed below the painting.
"How could the heavens be so cruel? Please come back, general. We cannot believe you're gone," Hong Son-ok shouted in an interview with North Korea's official television, her body shaking wildly.
A foreigner who teaches at a university in Pyongyang told AP students told about Kim's death from a reported heart attack looked very serious but didn't show any outward emotion.
"There was a blanket of silence" over Pyongyang, said the teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of worries about his security.
"People were going about their business. Lots of people were lining up to lay flowers at official portraits. People looked a little stunned and very serious, but composed and respectful."
"He passed away too suddenly to our profound regret," said a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. "The heart of Kim Jong-il stopped beating, but his noble and august name and benevolent image will always be remembered by our army and people."
The death could set back efforts by the United States and others to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, because the untested successor may seek to avoid any perceived weakness as he moves to consolidate control.
"The situation could become extremely volatile. What the North Korean military does in the next 24-48 hours will be decisive," said Bill Richardson, a former US ambassador to the United Nations who has made several high-profile visits to North Korea.
Seoul and Washington will worry that Kim Jong-un "may feel it necessary in the future to precipitate a crisis to prove his mettle to other senior leaders," according to Bruce Klingner, an Asia analyst at The Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.
Some analysts, however, said Kim's death was unlikely to plunge the country into chaos because it already was preparing for a transition.
Kim Jong-il indicated a year ago that Kim Jong-un would be his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.
The North said it would place Kim's body in the Kumsusan memorial palace in Pyongyang and that his funeral would be on December 28.
No entertainment will be allowed during an 11-day mourning period, and the country will accept no "foreign delegations hoping to express condolences", it said.
South Korea's President Lee urged his people to remain calm while his cabinet and the parliament convened emergency meetings.
The defence ministry said the South Korean military and the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea bolstered reconnaissance and were sharing intelligence on North Korea. Lee also talked with the leaders of Japan and Russia.
The White House said in a statement that it is closely monitoring reports of Kim's death.
"We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies," the statement said.
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