Death seems to be having a pre-Christmas clear out of the good; Christopher Hitchens, Vaclav Havel, Maurice from The Phoenix Bar and the bad; erm, Kim Jong-il.

The North Korean leader died today at the age of 69. Jong-il died of a heart attack on a train in Pyongyang. World leaders are now asking for reform in North Korea. Power will now go to the deceased leader’s youngest son Kim Jong-un’s, an untried heir with no experience. South Korea is keeping a watchful eye.

The BBC has some regional reactions and the New Scientist has a brilliant article showing a satellite image of Kim Jong-il’s darkest hour.

What are your thoughts?