kim's death to have 'limited impact'

BEIJING - The immediate impact of Kim Jong-il's sudden death on relations between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), regional stability and the transition of power in the DPRK would be limited, analysts said.

As far as Pyongyang's dynamics with the outside are concerned, Kim's demise will not undermine China-DPRK relations, said Zhang Tingyan, a former Chinese diplomat to Pyongyang who later became China's first ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"It should develop at a relatively proper pace. I don't see too many difficulties ahead, let alone radical changes - a peaceful transition is good (for everyone), and that's what will happen, overall, for the DPRK's relations with the ROK, the US and Japan. Of course, we can't rule out contingencies," Zhang said.