Washington, Muharram 24, 1433, Dec 19, 2011, SPA - US President Barack Obama was notified late Sunday of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the White House said in a statement. "We are closely monitoring reports that Kim Jong Il is dead," a presidential spokesman said. "The president has been notified, and we are in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan. We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula and to the freedom and security of our allies." --SPA 11:58 LOCAL TIME 08:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/953853