Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
December 19, 2011

With the passing of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is now in a period of national mourning. We are deeply concerned with the well being of the North Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with them during these difficult times. It is our hope that the new leadership of the DPRK will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honoring North Korea’s commitments, improving relations with its neighbors, and respecting the rights of its people. The United States stands ready to help the North Korean people and urges the new leadership to work with the international community to usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and lasting security on the Korean Peninsula.

華盛頓哥倫比亞特區（Washington, DC）
2011年12月19日
國務卿克林頓（Hillary Rodham Clinton）發表聲明
關于國防委員會委員長金正日去世

因國防委員會委員長金正日（Kim Jong Il）去世，朝鮮民主主義人民共和國（Democratic People’s Republic of Korea，DPRK）目前進入全國哀悼期。我們高度關注北韓人民的福祉，在這個困難的時刻，我們心系DPRK人民并為他們祈禱。我們希望DPRK新領導人履行北韓的承諾，改善與鄰國的關系，尊重本國人民的權利，引導國家走上和平的道路。美國隨時準備幫助北韓人民并敦促新領導人與國際社會共同努力，在朝鮮半島迎來和平、繁榮和持久安全的新時代。