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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
(about 2 hours 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. North Korea has begun two days of funeral services for late leader Kim Jong-il with a huge procession in the capital, 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. Footage showed tens of thousands of soldiers with their heads bowed as a huge portrait of Mr Kim was was carried slowly through the streets.
As then, the funeral is expected to be used to cement the succession of new leader Kim Jong-un. His successor and third son, Kim Jong-un, walked beside the hearse, images from state television showed.
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' New line-up
No schedule has been released for the commemorations and as of 0230GMT North Korean state television was not broadcasting events live. No schedule was released ahead of the commemorations and no foreign delegations are attending.
But Itar-Tass agency, the only Russian news organisation operating in the reclusive country, reported that a funeral service had begun. But observers expected the ceremonies to echo the displays of pomp and military might that marked the death of Mr Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994.
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. Kim Jong-un - who is thought to be in his late 20s and who has little political experience - was shown weeping beside the hearse.
As in 1994, observers say there will probably be a large photograph of the late leader, smiling, on prominent display. He was accompanied by his uncle, Chang Song-taek, who is expected to be a key player as the younger Kim consolidates power.
Citizens will line the streets, with many of the women in traditional black dresses. Ri Yong-ho, the army chief, also accompanied the hearse.
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. Observers will be keenly watching the line-up over the two-day funeral to see which officials are in prominent positions.
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. Kim Jong-il was in the process of formalising Kim Jong-un 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.
Commemorations are expected to continue on Thursday, with 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
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-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.
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.
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.
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.