Richard Weitz, the Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, told Al Jazeera that the US government has concerns over a power struggle following Kim Jong-il's death on Monday.
"He [Kim Jong-il] was in the process of delicately transferring power to his son, in what has to be a contested succession process," he said.
"Because the son is so young and inexperienced, we are pretty certain that a number of the north korean generals aren't comfortable having him in charge.
Meanwhile, Brian Myers, a North Korea expert and professor of international studies at Dongseo University in neighbouring South Korea, said the leader's death could not have come at a worse time for the North Korea because they were meant to be going into a celebratory year.
"2012 was supposed to be the anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth, it was supposed to be the year in which the country [North Korea] would formally enter the strong and prosperous country phase, it was supposed to be a time of great rejoicing and pride in North Korea," he said.
"Instead of which, we are probably going to be entering a period of heavy mourning."
But on the other hand, he didn't consider a power struggle likely because the "regime's legitimacy derives directly from the myth of Kim Il-sung".
"The country is often referred to as Kim il sung country. I dont see anybody coming from outside that line and taking over without the regime collapsing very quickly," he said.
