This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/17/kim-jong-il-body-display
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kim Jong-il's body goes on display in North Korea | Kim Jong-il's body goes on display in North Korea |
| (4 months later) | |
| North Korea has unveiled the embalmed body of Kim Jong-il, still in his trademark khaki jumpsuit, on the anniversary of his death. | North Korea has unveiled the embalmed body of Kim Jong-il, still in his trademark khaki jumpsuit, on the anniversary of his death. |
| Kim lies in state a few floors below his father, national founder Kim Il-sung, in the Kumsusan mausoleum, the cavernous former presidential palace. Kim Jong-il is presented lying beneath a red blanket, a spotlight shining on his face in a room suffused in red. | Kim lies in state a few floors below his father, national founder Kim Il-sung, in the Kumsusan mausoleum, the cavernous former presidential palace. Kim Jong-il is presented lying beneath a red blanket, a spotlight shining on his face in a room suffused in red. |
| Wails echoed through the chilly hall as a group of North Korean women sobbed into the sashes of their traditional dresses as they bowed before his body. The hall bearing the glass coffin was opened to select visitors on Monday – including the Associated Press – for the first time since his death. | Wails echoed through the chilly hall as a group of North Korean women sobbed into the sashes of their traditional dresses as they bowed before his body. The hall bearing the glass coffin was opened to select visitors on Monday – including the Associated Press – for the first time since his death. |
| North Korea also unveiled Kim's yacht and his armoured train carriage, where he is said to have died. Among the personal belongings featured in the mausoleum are the parka, sunglasses and pointy platform shoes he famously wore in the last decades of his life. A MacBook Pro lay open on his desk. | North Korea also unveiled Kim's yacht and his armoured train carriage, where he is said to have died. Among the personal belongings featured in the mausoleum are the parka, sunglasses and pointy platform shoes he famously wore in the last decades of his life. A MacBook Pro lay open on his desk. |
| North Koreans paid homage to Kim and celebrated last week's launch of a long-range rocket that sent a satellite named after him to space. | North Koreans paid homage to Kim and celebrated last week's launch of a long-range rocket that sent a satellite named after him to space. |
| The launch was condemned in many other capitals as a violation of bans against North Korea developing missile technology. But in the country it was portrayed not only as a gift to Kim Jong-il but also as proof that his son, Kim Jong-un, has the strength and vision to lead North Korea. | The launch was condemned in many other capitals as a violation of bans against North Korea developing missile technology. But in the country it was portrayed not only as a gift to Kim Jong-il but also as proof that his son, Kim Jong-un, has the strength and vision to lead North Korea. |
| The elder Kim died last 17 December from a heart attack while travelling on his train. His death was followed by scenes of North Koreans wailing in the streets of Pyongyang, and of his 20-something son leading ranks of uniformed and grey-haired officials through funeral and mourning rites. | The elder Kim died last 17 December from a heart attack while travelling on his train. His death was followed by scenes of North Koreans wailing in the streets of Pyongyang, and of his 20-something son leading ranks of uniformed and grey-haired officials through funeral and mourning rites. |
| The mood in the capital was decidedly more upbeat a year later, with some of the euphoria carrying over from last Wednesday's launch. The satellite bears one of Kim Jong-il's nicknames, Kwangmyongsong, or "Lode Star," a moniker given to him at birth according to the official lore. | The mood in the capital was decidedly more upbeat a year later, with some of the euphoria carrying over from last Wednesday's launch. The satellite bears one of Kim Jong-il's nicknames, Kwangmyongsong, or "Lode Star," a moniker given to him at birth according to the official lore. |
| North Koreans across the country stopped in their tracks at midday to bow their heads and honour the former ruler as the national flag fluttered at half-mast along streets and from buildings. | North Koreans across the country stopped in their tracks at midday to bow their heads and honour the former ruler as the national flag fluttered at half-mast along streets and from buildings. |
| Earlier, Kim Jong-un attended a solemn ceremony to reopen the sprawling granite mausoleum. | Earlier, Kim Jong-un attended a solemn ceremony to reopen the sprawling granite mausoleum. |
| Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the frigid plaza outside, newly transformed into a public park with lawns and pergolas. | Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the frigid plaza outside, newly transformed into a public park with lawns and pergolas. |
| Speaking outside the mausoleum, the military's top political officer, Choe Ryong-hae, said North Korea should be proud of the satellite, calling it "a political event with great significance in the history of Korea and humanity". | Speaking outside the mausoleum, the military's top political officer, Choe Ryong-hae, said North Korea should be proud of the satellite, calling it "a political event with great significance in the history of Korea and humanity". |
| Much of the rest of the world, however, was swift in condemning the launch, which was seen a cover for testing missile technology that could some day be used for a nuclear warhead. | Much of the rest of the world, however, was swift in condemning the launch, which was seen a cover for testing missile technology that could some day be used for a nuclear warhead. |
| The test, which potentially violates a UN ban on North Korean missile activity, underlined Kim Jong-un's determination to continue with his father's hardline policies even if they draw international condemnation. | The test, which potentially violates a UN ban on North Korean missile activity, underlined Kim Jong-un's determination to continue with his father's hardline policies even if they draw international condemnation. |
| Some experts worry that Pyongyang's next move will be to press ahead with a nuclear test in the coming weeks, a step towards building a warhead small enough to be carried by a long-range missile. | Some experts worry that Pyongyang's next move will be to press ahead with a nuclear test in the coming weeks, a step towards building a warhead small enough to be carried by a long-range missile. |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |