North Korea at standstill for Kim Jong-il’s memorial service
Following scenes of public grief at his funeral, thousands of North Koreans mark the memorial service for Kim Jong-il on Thursday in scenes of sombre silence.
Never a bustling city, the North Korean capital Pyongyang ground to a total standstill on Thursday as its citizens poured onto the streets to mark the final day of mourning for their late leader Kim Jong-il.
But the ostentatious grief filmed over recent days by state television was no longer on display as the people stood in serried ranks, hardly moving. In television images the silent crowds were so still that only the flags flapping in the distance confirmed that this was indeed video footage.
The country’s newly appointed leader, Kim Jong-un, appeared with senior officials at the main ceremony in Kim il-sung square. Elsewhere outside meeting halls and at monuments tens of thousands stood as the memorial service went on.
At 12 o’clock every North Korean was expected to stop what they were doing to mark three minutes of silence.
Former leader Kim Jong-il died on Saturday 17 December, according to state media.
Concerns over the relative youth and inexperience of North Korea‘s new leader Kim Jong-un have seen neighbouring countries on alert since the death of his father Kim Jung-il. Chinese naval vessels patrolled the Yalu river which forms part of the border with North Korea.
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