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Kim Jong-il death: 'Five million' mourn N Korea leader Kim Jong-il death: 'Five million' mourn N Korea leader
(about 2 hours later)
More than five million North Koreans have so far turned out to pay their respects to late leader Kim Jong-il, state media say.More than five million North Koreans have so far turned out to pay their respects to late leader Kim Jong-il, state media say.
The body of Mr Kim is lying in state in the capital Pyongyang as organised public mourning continues in streets and halls around the country.The body of Mr Kim is lying in state in the capital Pyongyang as organised public mourning continues in streets and halls around the country.
His son and presumed heir, Kim Jong-un, has publicly led funeral proceedings.His son and presumed heir, Kim Jong-un, has publicly led funeral proceedings.
State media hailed the new leader as "the outstanding leader of our party, army and people". State media hailed the new ruler as "the outstanding leader of our party, army and people".
Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack caused by overwork and stress at the age of 69, state media said. He will be buried on 28 December. Kim Jong-il died on Saturday of a heart attack at the age of 69, say state media reports, which blamed "overwork and stress". He will be buried on 28 December.
Elsewhere in the region, the flurry of telephone diplomacy continues as governments try to digest the news of his death. The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the figure of five million mourners given by North Korea's state run news agency is impossible to verify.
If true, it would mean more than a fifth of the population had joined in the public grieving in the isolated, nuclear-armed state.
All over Pyongyang you can see separate, kind of, mourning events. Outside one major meeting hall, hundreds of people are lining up to go and stand in front of the portrait of the deceased Gen Kim Jong-il.All over Pyongyang you can see separate, kind of, mourning events. Outside one major meeting hall, hundreds of people are lining up to go and stand in front of the portrait of the deceased Gen Kim Jong-il.
They cry and wail for a few minutes before they are moved along so that the next group can come up.They cry and wail for a few minutes before they are moved along so that the next group can come up.
This kind of thing is going on all over the city and there is also a strong sense of mourning, in that the normal activity of shops and the normal way that people might drink, or eat, or enjoy themselves is basically discouraged during this period.This kind of thing is going on all over the city and there is also a strong sense of mourning, in that the normal activity of shops and the normal way that people might drink, or eat, or enjoy themselves is basically discouraged during this period.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the figure of five million given by North Korea's state run news agency is impossible to verify. Photographs released by North Korean state media show solemn gatherings in halls and open spaces in Pyongyang.
If true, it would mean more than a fifth of the population had joined in the public grieving in the isolated, nuclear-armed state.
Photographs released by North Korean state media show solemn gatherings in halls and opens spaces in Pyongyang.
At least some of the mass wailing and weeping on the streets of Pyongyang is an expression of genuine grief, our correspondent says.At least some of the mass wailing and weeping on the streets of Pyongyang is an expression of genuine grief, our correspondent says.
'Intelligence failure' Succession
North Korean state media have been reporting pledges of loyalty to new leader Kim Jong-un after the death of his father. North Korean state media have been reporting pledges of loyalty to the new leader Kim Jong-un after the death of his father.
Kim Jong-un conducted a procession of senior officials viewing the late leader's body, which is displayed in a glass coffin.Kim Jong-un conducted a procession of senior officials viewing the late leader's body, which is displayed in a glass coffin.
He also received mourners, including foreign envoys, indicating a strengthening of his image as the country's political face at home and abroad.He also received mourners, including foreign envoys, indicating a strengthening of his image as the country's political face at home and abroad.
Two days after Kim Jong-il's death was announced regional governments are continuing to debate the implications of his inexperienced youngest son taking power. However, two days after Kim Jong-il's death was announced, regional governments are continuing to debate the implications of his inexperienced youngest son taking power.
The hot-lines between Beijing, Moscow, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington have been busy, our correspondent reports.
Another topic of discussion may well be the apparent failure of intelligence gathering.
For more than 48 hours between the North Korean leader's death and the official announcement it seems no spy agency had the slightest inkling that anything was up, he says.
Analysts say it is still unclear how tight a grip the young untested new leader has on the levers of power.
Kim Jong-il had been in the process of formalising Kim Jong-un as his successor when he died.Kim Jong-il had been in the process of formalising Kim Jong-un as his successor when he died.
But the transition had not been completed and analysts fear Mr Kim's death could trigger a period of instability.But the transition had not been completed and analysts fear Mr Kim's death could trigger a period of instability.
Speculation is rife about whether the younger Kim can manage to take charge of the country unchallenged.
The Reuters news agency quotes an unnamed source with links to Pyongyang as saying that Kim Jong-un does enjoy the full backing of the military.
However, a shift to a more collective form of rule is expected the source told Reuters, in contrast to the autocratic leadership of Kim Jong-il.
Reuters says its source declined to be identified, but has correctly predicted events in the past.
Firm information is impossible to obtain about what is going on in the closed circles of North Korea's ruling elite.
One topic of discussion among governments in the region is likely to be the apparent failure of intelligence gathering.
For more than 48 hours between the North Korean leader's death and the official announcement it seems no spy agency had the slightest inkling that anything was up, he says.
South Korea, whose military has been put on alert in the wake of Mr Kim's death, has sent its condolences to the North Korean people.South Korea, whose military has been put on alert in the wake of Mr Kim's death, has sent its condolences to the North Korean people.
Its failure to express condolences after the death of Kim Il-sung in 1994 affected relations between the two states for years.Its failure to express condolences after the death of Kim Il-sung in 1994 affected relations between the two states for years.