S Koreans fearful over Kim Jong-Il's death

News of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il hit South Koreans like a bolt from the blue Monday, sparking both fears of conflict and hopes of change across the heavily fortified border.

"I'm speechless," Kwak Bo-Ram, 24, an NGO official told AFP. "I'm just shocked and worried at the same time.

"It was always a rumour before, not a confirmed report," she told AFP.

Groups gathered in front of televisions in public places, with others glued to smartphones after the North's state media announced that the leader died Saturday.

An estimated 150 activists gathered in central Seoul's Gwanghwamun Plaza to welcome the death. "Let's achieve unification now," read one banner.

"It feels like an aching tooth fell out," said one demonstrator.

A weeping black-clad announcer on the North's state television gave the news to the world. State media urged people to rally round Kim's youngest son and heir apparent Kim Jong-Un.

"I'm worried there will be a war. I thought it wasn't true at first," said Song Bo-Na, 22, a university student.

Kim took over after his own father Kim Il-Sung died in 1994. Despite a stroke in August 2008, photos and TV footage had appeared to show him in better health in recent months.

"I hadn't much imagined what it would be like when Kim Jong-Il died, but now he has. I'm shocked and I'm very interested in what will happen from now on," said housewife Byun Mi-Sook.

Businessman Kim Sung-Il, 49, expressed expectations that North Korea would change after its leader's death. "The death will be, and should be, the trigger for changes in and out of North Korea," he said.

Another businessman, Ko Jae-Lin, 50, also said he hopes for change. "I think North Korea will now open up much sooner than speculated before," he said.

The North's regime had been resisting pressure from its ally China to free up the state-directed economy for fear of losing control.

Relations with the South's conservative government have been frosty since 2008.

University student Kim Lee-Soo, 21, said South Koreans and their government should "stay calm and try to respond appropriately, as this will have a huge influence in the South's stance in international society".

"I still can't believe it," Eom Yun-Mo, 38, told Yonhap news agency. "I am worried there may be more turbulence than when Kim Il-Sung died."

Internet reaction was less restrained.

"No one should pay respects to the dead," said user Lim Jung-Min on the Nate portal.

"I wish myocardial infarction and heart attacks were genetic and run in the family," said another user, Kwon So-Young.

South Korea's government put the military on alert after the shock news and summoned a meeting of the National Security Council.

North and South Korea have remained technically at war since the three-year Korean conflict ended only in an armistice in 1953.