The North Korean media outlet on Wednesday provided no further details on the death of Kim, 73, a top aide to leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has expressed deep sorrow over the death of a top aide, displaying unusual intimacy towards his "close comrade-in-arms whom nobody can replace".

Kim Yang Gon played a significant role in talks to remove tensions between the two nations after an exchange of artillery fire back in August.

Pyongyang's policy towards South Korea appeared uncertain Wednesday, after North Korea reported the death of a prominent figure in relations with Seoul. "Kim Jong Un has lost a capable and trusted elder adviser whom he could rely on".

"Is Kim Jong-Un revisiting his father's style?"

In 2013, he purged and executed his uncle Jang Song-Thaek, who was once considered the second most powerful man in the country for "anti-revolutionary crimes". It said a state funeral will be held Thursday for him.

June 3, 2010: KCNA says Ri Je Gang, first vice department director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, died in a traffic accident at age 80 the previous day.

Experts have warned of a potential deterioration in ties involving the two Koreas after the sudden death of a senior North Korean ruling party official who had been in charge of managing relationships with South Korea. North Korea has no independent press or religious freedom and its citizens face rape, torture, forced labor and imprisonment and execution.

Impoverished North Korea's road network is badly maintained and auto ownership is rare, yet several high-level officials have died in traffic accidents over the years.

"Security is extremely tight when a high(-ranking) official is traveling through essentially empty streets".

"However, there is another reason to be highly suspicious".

"I worry that we can not avoid long suspension of a dialogue between South and North Korea [following Mr Kim's death]", said Cheong Seong-chang, at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea.

Regarding Kim's death, some analysts have cast doubt over the North's report, raising the possibility that he might have been killed in the disguise of a vehicle accident by hardliners in the North's military.

Choe Ryong Hae, North Korea's Workers' Party secretary, was included in a roster of top official names, made public during a North Korea announcement for the former Kim's state funeral committee, Jiji Press reported.