Videos: Wailing and Spectacle Abound at Kim Jong Il’s Funeral

If you can't tell from the keening population of North Korea in these videos, there were a few tears at the Dear Leader's memorial.

  • Share
  • Read Later
KRT / Reuters

North Koreans react during their late leader Kim Jong-il's funeral procession in Pyongyang in this still image taken from video December 28, 2011.

Snow fell softly in Pyongyang on Wednesday as more than 200,000 people gathered to mourn during the funeral of Kim Jong Il in North Korea. The wintery scene fit with the purported story of Kim Jong Il’s birth taking place in a secluded mountain location, amid the snow and the trees.

With the wailing reaching high decibels (just try and hear newscasters over the in-unison crying), a procession that included the Great Successor, Kim Jong Un, walking alongside the casket in tears and a giant photo of Kim Jong Il highlighted the dreary three-hour event.

The procession began at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and made its way through the North Korean streets.

Using state television footage, here’s a CNN account of the event:

[vodpod id=Video.15878024&w=425&h=350&fv=]

The Associated Press captured raw footage of people streaming toward the event:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkr-IGWJRwQ]

If you want wailing, we have wailing:

[vodpod id=Video.15878026&w=425&h=350&fv=endpoint%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2Fvideo%2F2011%2Fdec%2F28%2Fnorth-korea-funeral-leader-kim-jong-il-video%2Fjson]

Another view of the event:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSLJYbhXCkE]

PHOTOS: The Busy Life of Kim Jong Il

PHOTOS: The State Funeral of Kim Jong Il

PHOTOS: A Dictator’s Passing