international intrigue

North Korea Funeral Ceremonies Begin for Kim Jong-Il

(FILES) This undated file picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on September 13, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (L) inspecting the Combined Unit 597 of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Navy and its combined maneouvers at an undisclosed location. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il on September 18, 2009 told a Chinese envoy that he was willing to engage in bilateral and multilateral talks on his country's controversial nuclear programme, Chinese state media said. AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) This undated file picture released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on September 13, 2009 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (L) inspecting the Combined Unit 597 of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Navy and its combined maneouvers at an undisclosed location. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il on September 18, 2009 told a Chinese envoy that he was willing to engage in bilateral and multilateral talks on his country’s controversial nuclear programme, Chinese state media said. AFP PHOTO/KCNA via KNS (Photo credit should read KNS/AFP/Getty Images) Photo: KNS/2009 AFP

A ceremony for fallen leader Kim Jong-Il began recently at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and will continue as Kim’s body travels in a hearse through the streets of Pyongyang on Wednesday. According to Russia’s Itar-Tass, a farewell ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 29, at noon local time. “On Thursday, a national memorial service will feature an artillery salute to be followed by a three-minute silence at noon and trains and ships sounding their horns in unison,” adds the Guardian. Invitations to all foreign delegations got lost in the mail.

Funeral Ceremonies Begin for Kim Jong-Il