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North Korea to end mourning period for Kim Jong-il North Korea to end mourning period for Kim Jong-il
(about 2 hours later)
The official mourning period for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is due to end after an elaborate funeral was staged in the capital, Pyongyang.The official mourning period for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is due to end after an elaborate funeral was staged in the capital, Pyongyang.
Regime officials will join his son and anointed successor Kim Jong-un at a national memorial service.Regime officials will join his son and anointed successor Kim Jong-un at a national memorial service.
Thursday's final stage will be preceded by a three-minute silence, after which all trains and ships expected to sound their horns in unison.Thursday's final stage will be preceded by a three-minute silence, after which all trains and ships expected to sound their horns in unison.
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.
On Wednesday, thousands stood weeping and wailing in the snow as the funeral cortege passed, images from state television showed.On Wednesday, thousands stood weeping and wailing in the snow as the funeral cortege passed, images from state television showed.
White snowWhite snow
Kim Jong-un cried as he walked alongside the hearse. Rows of soldiers bowed their heads in homage in the city's main square.Kim Jong-un cried as he walked alongside the hearse. Rows of soldiers bowed their heads in homage in the city's main square.
The young Kim Jong-un will have the backing and guidance of his uncle, Chang Song-taek, a senior figure in the leadership who is married to Kim Jong-il's sister, Kim Kyung-hee - a general in her own right.The young Kim Jong-un will have the backing and guidance of his uncle, Chang Song-taek, a senior figure in the leadership who is married to Kim Jong-il's sister, Kim Kyung-hee - a general in her own right.
Will the new team try to keep the lid on North Korea as firmly as his father did? It is much too early to tell, but it is a historical truism that a dictatorship is at its most vulnerable when it tries to ease up.Will the new team try to keep the lid on North Korea as firmly as his father did? It is much too early to tell, but it is a historical truism that a dictatorship is at its most vulnerable when it tries to ease up.
Yet if North Korea maintains its ferocious grip on the lives of its citizens, there is always the possibility that they will finally be pushed too far.Yet if North Korea maintains its ferocious grip on the lives of its citizens, there is always the possibility that they will finally be pushed too far.
People who visited Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania as late as the summer of 1989 believed that the ferocity of his rule had wiped out the very instinct for personal freedom among ordinary people. But by late December that year they had risen up, and he and his equally tough wife had been executed.People who visited Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania as late as the summer of 1989 believed that the ferocity of his rule had wiped out the very instinct for personal freedom among ordinary people. But by late December that year they had risen up, and he and his equally tough wife had been executed.
It is a great deal easier to set up a dictatorship than to change the way it operates.It is a great deal easier to set up a dictatorship than to change the way it operates.
"Seeing this white snow fall has made me think of the general's efforts and this brings tears to my eyes," Seo Ju-rim, a weeping female soldier, told North Korean television."Seeing this white snow fall has made me think of the general's efforts and this brings tears to my eyes," Seo Ju-rim, a weeping female soldier, told North Korean television.
One of the myths surrounding Kim Jong-il, who had lain in state for ten days ahead of the funeral, was that he could control the weather.One of the myths surrounding Kim Jong-il, who had lain in state for ten days ahead of the funeral, was that he could control the weather.
Kim Jong-un - who is thought to be in his late 20s and who has little political experience - was accompanied by his uncle, Chang Song-taek, expected to be a key player as the younger Kim consolidates power.Kim Jong-un - who is thought to be in his late 20s and who has little political experience - was accompanied by his uncle, Chang Song-taek, expected to be a key player as the younger Kim consolidates power.
The procession was broadcast live on state television.The procession was broadcast live on state television.
No foreign delegations have attended any of the events. However, UN offices around the world lowered their flags to half-mast.No foreign delegations have attended any of the events. However, UN offices around the world lowered their flags to half-mast.
A spokesman at the UN headquarters in New York said that the move had been requested by Pyongyang's UN mission but was part of normal protocol for the funeral of any head of state.A spokesman at the UN headquarters in New York said that the move had been requested by Pyongyang's UN mission but was part of normal protocol for the funeral of any head of state.
Correspondents say the ceremonies echoed the displays of pomp and military might that marked the death of Mr Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994.Correspondents say the ceremonies echoed the displays of pomp and military might that marked the death of Mr Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994.
Kim Jong-il - known in North Korea as the "Dear Leader" - was in the process of formalising Kim Jong-un as his successor when he died. However, the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbours fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state. Kim Jong-il - known in North Korea as the "Dear Leader" - was in the process of formalising Kim Jong-un as his successor when he died.
However, the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbours fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state.