Quote "that such violence is beyond the pale of acceptable international conduct."

Where is your condemnation of the multitude of killings of people by the CIA and other Western backed intelligence agencies?

Where is your condemnation of the multitude of killings of people by American drones?

Where is your condemnation of the multitude of killings of people by ___ the list can go on.

Not to legitimize or condone there actions but they pale into minimal by comparison too what is done by other countries.

My first thought was wondering if the CIA might've been behind the assassination itself, to create a context with which to confront North Korea, though I have no info to assume they did.
Certainly Kim Jong Un will benefit from more political stability that no other valid successor to the leadership exists.
It effectively reduces any idea that an alternative exists and any movement that would support those ends.

US objectives in North Korea are denuclearisation and their are concerned North Korea's capabilities approach being able to target US homesoil; not sure they actually would unless provoked but that's the narrative.
But China has recently cut its import of North Korean coal by half in response to US pressure, this will have a devastating effect on the North Korean's economy.

One thing that isn't often spoken about is that US congress backed away from a deal US President Clinton made to denuclearize North Korea in return for food and aid during a time of famine, and the country ended up starving; which is a big part of why they continued with their nuclear program.

China is probably towing the US line because it doesn't want the US using North Korea as a tool to initiate conflict; or as a stepping stone on a US path to attacking China itself.

Its hard to know if the US will now change it's strategy and consider diplomacy.
Upcoming elections in South Korea may see a new government more willing to make peace with the North.

The time is ripe for having an accident with one of those minute man satellite showering above n Korea.

Trump Administration Cancels Back-Channel Talks With North Korea
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/25/world/asia/white-house-north-korea-talks.html?