The US has called on North Korea to pursue a "path of peace" following the death of leader Kim Jong-il.

朝鲜领导人金正日死后，美国呼吁朝鲜走上一条“和平之路”。

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US was ready to help the North Korean people and create lasting¹ security on the Korean peninsula.

Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack, state media said.

US leaders have been holding urgent talks with the communist state's neighbours, and President Barack Obama has promised to defend regional allies.

Kim Jong-il, 69, had been in the process of formalising his third son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor.

But the transition had not been completed and analysts² fear Mr Kim's death could trigger a period of instability in the internationally isolated³ nuclear-armed state.

Inside North Korea, citizens appear to be mourning Mr Kim - their leader since the death of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994.

But around the region countries have been holding urgent talks about what the implications of Mr Kim's death might be.

"It is our hope that the new leadership of the DPRK (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," Mrs Clinton said in a statement.

"The United States stands ready to help the North Korean people and urges the new leadership to work with the international community to usher⁴ in（引进） a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean peninsula."

US President Barack Obama has spoken to both the South Korean and Japanese leaders to discuss the situation.

In his conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, he "underscored the United States' commitment to the defence of our close allies, including Japan", the White House said in a statement.