Kim Jong Il's body lies in state as nation mourns
Source: Agencies |
December 21, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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NORTH Korea displayed the body of its leader Kim Jong Il in a glass coffin surrounded by red flowers yesterday, and his young heir was one of the first to pay his respects, a strong indication that a smooth leadership transition is under way.
As the country mourned for a second day with high-level visits to Kim's body at a memorial palace and public gatherings of weeping citizens, state media hailed his youngest son and heir Kim Jong Un as a "lighthouse of hope."
His father's body was wrapped in red cloth and surrounded by blossoms of his namesake flowers, red "kimjongilia." As solemn music played, Kim Jong Un entered the hall surrounded by military honor guards. He observed a moment of silence, then circled the coffin, followed by other officials.
Outside one of the Pyongyang's main performance centers, mourners carried wreaths and flowers toward a portrait of Kim Jong Il. Groups were allowed to grieve in front of the portrait for a few minutes at a time.
"We will change today's sorrow into strength and courage and work harder for a powerful and prosperous nation, as our general wanted, under the leadership of the new General Kim Jong Un," said U Son Hui, a Pyongyang resident.
With the country in an 11-day period of official mourning, flags were flown at half-mast at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings. The streets of Pyongyang were quiet, but throngs of people gathered at landmarks honoring their Dear Leader.
Kim's coffin was decorated by a wreath from Kim Jong Un along with various medals and orders. The body was laid out in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of Kim's father - national founder Kim Il Sung - has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.
Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on Saturday. He was 69.
A state funeral is set for December 28 in the capital, to be followed by a national memorial service the next day.
North Korean officials say they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.
Since Kim's death the media have stepped up their praise of his son.
The Korean Central News Agency described Kim Jong Un as "a great person born of heaven," a term previously used only for his father and grandfather.
The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, said Kim Jong Un was "the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope" for the military and the people. It described him as "born of Mount Paektu," one of Korea's most cherished sites and Kim Jong Il's official birthplace.
South Korea offered its condolences yesterday and said it would allow the families of prominent South Koreans with ties to North Korea to visit.
Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said the government will allow visits by families of former President Kim Dae-jung, who held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and former Hyundai Asan chairman Chung Mong-hun, who had business ties with North Korea.
As the country mourned for a second day with high-level visits to Kim's body at a memorial palace and public gatherings of weeping citizens, state media hailed his youngest son and heir Kim Jong Un as a "lighthouse of hope."
His father's body was wrapped in red cloth and surrounded by blossoms of his namesake flowers, red "kimjongilia." As solemn music played, Kim Jong Un entered the hall surrounded by military honor guards. He observed a moment of silence, then circled the coffin, followed by other officials.
Outside one of the Pyongyang's main performance centers, mourners carried wreaths and flowers toward a portrait of Kim Jong Il. Groups were allowed to grieve in front of the portrait for a few minutes at a time.
"We will change today's sorrow into strength and courage and work harder for a powerful and prosperous nation, as our general wanted, under the leadership of the new General Kim Jong Un," said U Son Hui, a Pyongyang resident.
With the country in an 11-day period of official mourning, flags were flown at half-mast at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings. The streets of Pyongyang were quiet, but throngs of people gathered at landmarks honoring their Dear Leader.
Kim's coffin was decorated by a wreath from Kim Jong Un along with various medals and orders. The body was laid out in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of Kim's father - national founder Kim Il Sung - has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.
Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on Saturday. He was 69.
A state funeral is set for December 28 in the capital, to be followed by a national memorial service the next day.
North Korean officials say they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.
Since Kim's death the media have stepped up their praise of his son.
The Korean Central News Agency described Kim Jong Un as "a great person born of heaven," a term previously used only for his father and grandfather.
The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, said Kim Jong Un was "the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope" for the military and the people. It described him as "born of Mount Paektu," one of Korea's most cherished sites and Kim Jong Il's official birthplace.
South Korea offered its condolences yesterday and said it would allow the families of prominent South Koreans with ties to North Korea to visit.
Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said the government will allow visits by families of former President Kim Dae-jung, who held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and former Hyundai Asan chairman Chung Mong-hun, who had business ties with North Korea.
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