A North Korean source in China reported, "It must have been known early in China about Kim Jong-il's death, given that regular workers at the embassy and consulates were summoned and sent back to North Korea." However another source claims those who had defected couldn't have known about Kim Jong-il's death. It appears that the official announcement on the 19th was the first news ordinary people received of his death.

In China too the military has been moved to a rare state of level one military preparedness.
The North Korea Central News Agency announced at noon on Monday December 19th that Kim Jong-il died of overwork whilst in his train on the morning of the 17th.