Malaysia Hopes New N.Korean Leadership Will Work Towards Achieving Peace

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has expressed the hope that the new North Korean leadership will work towards achieving peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula. Expressing condolences to the people and government of North Korea on the demise of their Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-il, the Foreign Ministry said Malaysia is continuously monitoring the situation in North Korea through its Embassy in Pyongyang. "Malaysia strongly believes that the stability of the Korean Peninsula is important for regional peace, security and economic development," it said. North Korean state-run KCNA news agency announced Monday that the country's leader Kim Jong-il had passed away at the age of 69. His son Kim Jong-un has been named as the successor, reports said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia