Washington, Dec 19 (IANS): The US was in "close touch" with South Korea and Japan following the death of North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-il, the White House said.
"We are closely monitoring reports that Kim Jong-il is dead," Xinhua quoted White House spokesman Jay Carney as saying in a statement.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died Saturday during a train journey "from a great mental and physical strain".
He was 69, the country's official KCNA news agency reported Monday.