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| North Korea holds two-day state funeral for Kim Jong-il | North Korea holds two-day state funeral for Kim Jong-il |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| North Korea has begun two days of funeral services for its late leader Kim Jong-il, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend in Pyongyang. | |
| Few details are known and there will be no foreign delegations but a procession is expected on Wednesday, echoing that for Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994. | Few details are known and there will be no foreign delegations but a procession is expected on Wednesday, echoing that for Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994. |
| As then, the funeral is expected to be used to cement the succession of new leader Kim Jong-un. | As then, the funeral is expected to be used to cement the succession of new leader Kim Jong-un. |
| Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said. | Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said. |
| He has been lying in state since then. | He has been lying in state since then. |
| 'Memorial service' | 'Memorial service' |
| No schedule has been released for the commemorations and as of 0230GMT North Korean state television was not broadcasting events live. | No schedule has been released for the commemorations and as of 0230GMT North Korean state television was not broadcasting events live. |
| But Itar-Tass agency, the only Russian news organisation operating in the reclusive country, reported that a funeral service had begun. | |
| If the funeral does mirror 1994, there will be much pomp and military might, with tens of thousands of weeping North Koreans. | If the funeral does mirror 1994, there will be much pomp and military might, with tens of thousands of weeping North Koreans. |
| This ceremony is an important event for North Korea to cement the authority of its next leader - a man not yet 30 and with little experience of government. | This ceremony is an important event for North Korea to cement the authority of its next leader - a man not yet 30 and with little experience of government. |
| But it is also a rare opportunity for those outside the country to glimpse the internal power structure of the Communist state. | But it is also a rare opportunity for those outside the country to glimpse the internal power structure of the Communist state. |
| Many of the country's key positions are still held by a coterie of men and women around its former leader - senior military and party officials who may well now be jostling for influence in the new regime. | Many of the country's key positions are still held by a coterie of men and women around its former leader - senior military and party officials who may well now be jostling for influence in the new regime. |
| And some say North Korea's reluctance to open up the funeral ceremony to foreign delegations may signal that those hierarchies have not yet been fully agreed. | And some say North Korea's reluctance to open up the funeral ceremony to foreign delegations may signal that those hierarchies have not yet been fully agreed. |
| Foreign diplomats have been asked to assemble at a stadium to be taken to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace - where Mr Kim is lying in state - for a funeral procession through Pyongyang, AP news agency reports. | Foreign diplomats have been asked to assemble at a stadium to be taken to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace - where Mr Kim is lying in state - for a funeral procession through Pyongyang, AP news agency reports. |
| As in 1994, observers say there will probably be a large photograph of the late leader, smiling, on prominent display. | As in 1994, observers say there will probably be a large photograph of the late leader, smiling, on prominent display. |
| Citizens will line the streets, with many of the women in traditional black dresses. | Citizens will line the streets, with many of the women in traditional black dresses. |
| There have been many images of distraught citizens released by state media since the death. Early on Wednesday it broadcast more footage of weeping mourners. | There have been many images of distraught citizens released by state media since the death. Early on Wednesday it broadcast more footage of weeping mourners. |
| Thursday is expected to feature a three-minute silence at noon local time, followed by trains and ships sounding horns. The national memorial service will then begin. | Thursday is expected to feature a three-minute silence at noon local time, followed by trains and ships sounding horns. The national memorial service will then begin. |
| The inter-Korean Kaesong industrial park has been closed for two days for the mourning following a North Korean request, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports. | The inter-Korean Kaesong industrial park has been closed for two days for the mourning following a North Korean request, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports. |
| Closely watched | Closely watched |
| Kim Jong-il was not in the funeral motorcade for his father's death and observers will be watching to see how prominent a role Kim Jong-un - who is Mr Kim's third son - plays. | Kim Jong-il was not in the funeral motorcade for his father's death and observers will be watching to see how prominent a role Kim Jong-un - who is Mr Kim's third son - plays. |
| Kim Jong-un's name is first on the list of members of the "national funeral committee" published by the main North Korean news agency, and the committee did take part in Kim Il-sung's funeral. | Kim Jong-un's name is first on the list of members of the "national funeral committee" published by the main North Korean news agency, and the committee did take part in Kim Il-sung's funeral. |
| Kim Jong-il's two other sons are not members of the committee and have not been seen during the mourning period. | Kim Jong-il's two other sons are not members of the committee and have not been seen during the mourning period. |
| State media have portrayed Kim Jong-un as leader since his father's death. On Wednesday state media said he had paid a fifth visit to his father's body to pay his respects. | State media have portrayed Kim Jong-un as leader since his father's death. On Wednesday state media said he had paid a fifth visit to his father's body to pay his respects. |
| The younger Kim is thought to be in his late 20s and has very little political experience. | The younger Kim is thought to be in his late 20s and has very little political experience. |
| Kim Jong-il was in the process of formalising him as his successor when he died but the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbours fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state. | Kim Jong-il was in the process of formalising him as his successor when he died but the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbours fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state. |
| The Rodong Sinmun newspaper has described Kim Jong-un as the head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, meaning that he now controls one of the country's highest decision-making bodies. | The Rodong Sinmun newspaper has described Kim Jong-un as the head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, meaning that he now controls one of the country's highest decision-making bodies. |
| The newspaper earlier gave him the title of "supreme commander" of the armed forces. | The newspaper earlier gave him the title of "supreme commander" of the armed forces. |
| Analysts say he will be surrounded by a group of experienced military insiders and relatives, as the Pyongyang elite attempts to hold on to power. | Analysts say he will be surrounded by a group of experienced military insiders and relatives, as the Pyongyang elite attempts to hold on to power. |