Kim Jong Il’s funeral planned as North Korea mourns (VIDEO)
Korean state-run news agency KCNA has several videos it claims show spontaneous outpourings of public grief at the death of Kim Jong Il.
North Korea is planning 10 days of mourning for its dead leader, Kim Jong Il, according to state media.
Korean Central News Agency reported that the official mourning period would run from December 17 to 29—adding weight to speculation that Kim Jong Il had already been dead for some days before the official announcement.
His body will be taken to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where his father, Kim Il Sung, also lies. Mourners will be received from December 20 to 27, KCNA said.
A national funeral committee has been formed to organize the obsequies, led by the leader's son and successor, Kim Jong Un.
GlobalPost analysis: Kim Jong Il dead: What's next for North Korea?
A "farewell-bidding ceremony" will be held in Pyongyang on December 28, followed by a national memorial service on December 29.
Local events will take place across the country to coincide with the national memorial, according to KCNA. Flags will be flown at half-mast, gun salutes will be fired, trains and boats will blow their horns and music and other entertainment will be forbidden, the report said.
No foreign delegations will be invited.
In the capital, KCNA described scenes of mass hysteria at Kim Jong Il's death.
The statues of President Kim Il Sung in various places of the DPRK including Kim Il Sung University and the Pyongyang Students and Children's Palace and the mosaics depicting Kim Jong Il are visited by an endless crowd of citizens.
They are shedding bitter tears, their knees on the ground, as they courageously weathered out stern adversities, trusting him only and holding him in high esteem as the sun of destiny and father.
They are getting the paved stones drenched with tears, feeling so regrettable as they can no longer see him whose smile was as broad as sunshine.
The news agency—described by GlobalPost's Patrick Winn as "North Korea's propaganda mouthpiece"—also showed videos of the apparent public grief:
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!