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  • North Korean heir leads funeral of Kim Jong-il
    North Korean heir leads funeral of Kim Jong-il
    PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korea carried out a meticulously choreographed funeral for late leader Kim Jong Il on Wednesday and affirmed that the country was now in the ``warm care'' of his young son, extending the Kim family's hold on power to a third generation.Footage broadcast on North
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North Korean heir leads funeral of Kim Jong-il

Dec. 28, 2011 - 14:12 By

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korea carried out a meticulously choreographed funeral for late leader Kim Jong Il on Wednesday and affirmed that the country was now in the ``warm care'' of his young son, extending the Kim family's hold on power to a third generation.

Footage broadcast on North Korea's state television showed Kim's youngest son and successor Kim Jong Un walking next to his father's hearse as it made its way slowly through cold, snowy Pyongyang. Dressed in a dark overcoat, he bowed his head slightly against the snow, and raised his right arm in salute.

Walking behind was Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law and a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission who is expected to play a crucial role in helping Kim Jong Un take power.

Tens of thousands of mourners stood in heavy snow as they passed by. Soldiers stood in lines with their heads bowed.

Kim Jong Il, who led the nation with an iron fist following his father Kim Il Sung's death in 1994, died of a heart attack Dec. 17 at age 69, according to state media. Kim Jong Un is already being hailed as the ``supreme leader'' of the party, state and army.

A private ceremony is believed to have been held earlier Wednesday in the inner sanctum of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace with Kim Jong Un and top military and party officials.

Foreign dignitaries in the city had been asked to gather at a sports stadium shortly before noon to be taken to Kumsusan to see the hearse pass at the start of the funeral procession through Pyongyang, according to a diplomat who asked that her name not be used due to the sensitivity of the details.

The young Kim made his public debut just last year with a promotion to four-star general and an appointment as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party.

But in the days since his father's death, the campaign to install him as the next leader has been swift, with state media bestowing him with new titles, including ``great successor,'' ``supreme leader'' and ``sagacious leader.''




 

<한글기사>




김정은, 영구차 붙잡고 울며 눈길 걸어

북한 김정은 노동당 중앙위원회 부위원장 등 새 지도부가 28일 평양 금수산기념궁전 앞에서 열린 김정일 국방위원장의 영결식에서 영구차 옆을 호위하며 걸었다.

영구차 오른쪽에선 김 부위원장 뒤로 장성택, 김기남, 최태복이, 김 부위원장 건너편 쪽에서는 리영호, 김영춘, 김정각 등이 영구차를 호위했다.

이들은 김 위원장의 사망으로 공백이 생긴 북한 권력을 주도적으로 이끄는 역할 을 하게 될 것으로 보인다.

특히 검은 코트를 입고 차량의 오른쪽 맨앞에서 걸은 김 부위원장은 거수경례를 하면서 의장대 사이를 지났다.

북한이 오후 2시부터 금수산기념궁전에서 김정일 국방위원장의 영결식을 시작했다.

조선중앙TV는 오후 2시부터 생중계를 시작했으며, 라디오 방송인  조선중앙방송 과 평양방송은 1시57분 영결식을 '실황중계'한다고 보도했다.

현재 북한에는 눈이 내리고 있어 오전 10시로 예정된 영결식이 4시간 정도 연기 된 것으로 보인다. (연합뉴스)

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