UN leader watching N. Korea after Kim death

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon was among world leaders put on alert Sunday over the death of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-II, officials said.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon was among world leaders put on alert Sunday over the death of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-II, officials said.

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"The secretary general is aware but of the reports but we don't have an immediate reaction," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told AFP.

The United Nations has been desperately trying to raise international funds to provide food for North Korea. It appealed for $218 million dollars this year but less than 20 % has been raised.

Ban, who is from South Korea, has in turn regularly expressed concern at the deadlock in international talks on the North's nuclear arms program. He said last week that the mood on the Korean peninsula was almost "frozen".