美国国务卿希拉里·克林顿敦促朝鲜新领导层在最高领导人金正日去世后，选择“和平之路”。希拉里·克林顿星期一晚间说，她希望朝鲜致力于“改善和邻 国的关系，并尊重自己人民的权利”。她还说，美国愿意帮助这个与外界隔绝的共产党国家“走进一个和平、繁荣和在该地区长期安全的新时代”。
朝 鲜最紧密的同盟中国星期二表示，将致力于“维护朝鲜半岛的和平与稳定”。北京说，中国外长杨洁篪已经与美国国务卿希拉里·克林顿和韩国外长金星焕就金正日 去世进行了谈话。中国星期二继续表示对金正日之子、准接班人金正恩的支持。中国外交部发言人刘为民说，欢迎朝鲜新任领导人在“方便的时候”访问中国。中国 国家主席胡锦涛也到朝鲜驻中国大使馆表示哀悼。韩国向朝鲜民众表示慰问。韩国统一部长官柳佑益星期二说，虽然韩国军方仍然保持戒备，朝韩军事分界线附近目 前还没有不安定情况的报导。
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging North Korea's new leadership to choose what she calls the "path of peace" following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.Clinton said late Monday she hoped North Korea would be committed to "improving relations with its neighbors and respecting the rights of its people." She also said the U.S. was ready to help the isolated communist nation "usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security" in the region.
China - North Korea's closest ally - said Tuesday it was committed to "maintaining peace and stability" on the Korean peninsula. Beijing said its foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, has spoken with Secretary Clinton and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan about Mr. Kim's death.China continued Tuesday to express support for Mr. Kim's son and apparent successor, Kim Jong Un. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Weimin said the new North Korean leader was welcome to visit China at a "convenient" time. Chinese President Hu Jintao also visited North Korea's embassy in Beijing to offer his condolences. South Korea expressed condolences to the North Korean public. South Korean Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said Tuesday that while the South's military remains on alert, there have been no reports of unrest near the demarcation zone separating the two countries.