US urges North Korea to follow “path of peace”

Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack, state and North Korea's state television is showing marathon footage of people filing past his open coffin in Pyongyang.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was ready to help the North Korean people and create lasting security on the Korean peninsula. The US is hoping North Korea's new leadership will be ready to open talks with the US and it's regional allies.

"It is our hope that the new leadership of the North Korea will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honouring North Korea's commitments, improving relations with its neighbours, and respecting the rights of its people," Clinton said.  

The US Secretary of State said "The United States stands ready to help the North Korean people and urges the new leadership to work with the international community to usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean peninsula."

North Korea has a population of about 23 million and is thought to possess the world's fifth largest army with over one million soldiers. The Obama administration has embarked on a diplomatic operation to engage post-Kim Jong-il North Korea in peace talks in order to defend their interests and its regional ally's interests, namely South Korea and Japan.