New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday he believed the death of the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Il will spark some concerns about what that means for the country's future.

Kim Jong Il has died at the age of 69 "from a great mental and physical strain," the official KCNA news agency reported on Monday.

Key said he does hope for a smooth transition and a better outlook for the people of DPRK.