The United States has expressed hope for a peaceful and stable transition in North Korea following the death of its leader.

After holding talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Washington on Monday that she and Gemba discussed “the evolving situation on the Korean Peninsula” in wake of the reports from North Korea's state-run media on the death of Kim Jong-il.

Clinton said the U.S. and Japan “both share a common interest in a peaceful and stable transition in North Korea, as well as in ensuring regional peace and stability.” Clinton, however, stopped short of mentioning that the late North Korean leader’s third son, Jong-un, is set to assume his father’s place.

The White House, meanwhile, stressed that the North’s new leadership must take steps toward denuclearization for a better future.

The U.S. apparently has underlined the importance of a peaceful power transition as confusion in the North’s government would threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula.