Despite the harsh weather, tens of thousands of Pyongyang residents lined up on snow-covered streets shouting and wailing to attend their late leader Kim Jong Il’s two-day funeral on Wednesday, December 27, 2011, a three-hour event that displayed the secretive regime's ability to choreograph elaborate state ceremonies.
This three-hour long procession started Wednesday at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in which the body of Kim Jong Il has lain since his sudden death was announced on December 19, 2011. It was shocked that Leader Kim died at age 69 of a heart attack on December 17 while on a train journey. At the two-day funeral, his third and youngest son Kim Jong Un who took over as the leader of North Korea right after Kim Jong-il's deathwas head mourner on the gray day in Pyongyang and walked alongside the hearse of his deceased father with his left hand holding onto the sedan's side mirror. On the left was top military leader Ri Yong Ho, and just behind the young Kim was his uncle and Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law Jang Sung-Taek. At the end of the three-hour procession, rifles fired 21 times as Kim Jong Un and other officials stood with their heads bowed.
North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong Un walks beside the black hearse which is carrying the body of his late father and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to leave the Kumsusan Memorial Palace …
…during the funeral procession of Kim Jong Ilin Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday, December 27, 2011
A portrait of Kim Jong-il is displayed during the procession through the snow-covered streets of Pyongyang on Wednesday
The memorial route is about 25 miles (40km) long, passing by a billboard with a slogan praising the revolutionary ideas of Comrade Kim Il Sung, Kim's father and the country's revered founder
Tens of thousands of military officials in uniforms stand still waiting at the plaza in front of the palace
The funeral takes place with tens of thousands of North Koreans lining up the route of the funeral cortege through the streets of Pyongyang
North Koreans react during their late leader Kim Jong-il's funeral procession in Pyongyang
Citizens shout and wail at Kim Jong Il’s funeral in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday
Baby girls in North Korea mourn the dear leader Kim Jong Il who ruled the country for 14 years with an iron grip
Military officials is choked to witness the their late leader Kim Jong Il’s funeral
Kim Jong-il’s Funeral: North Koreans Mourn across Snowy Pyongyang Streets (Pictures)
Related links:
Kim Jong Il's Son: Is Kim Jong Un Ready To Be North Korea's New Leader? (Pictures)
Kim Jong Il’s Cause of Death and Funeral Arrangements (Pictures)
Vaclav Havel Funeral: Tributes to Former Czech President in Pictures
