Death and state funeral of Kim Jong Il

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Death and funeral of Kim Jong Il
	Official posthumous portrait
Date	17–29 December 2011
Location	Pyongyang, North Korea
Participants	Kim Jong Un, North Korean military, government and Korean Workers’ Party elites

The death of Kim Jong Il (Korean: 김정일의 죽음과 국장) was reported by North Korean state television news on 19 December 2011.^[1] The presenter Ri Chun-hee announced that he had died on 17 December at 8:30 am of a massive heart attack while travelling by train to an area outside Pyongyang. Reportedly, he had received medical treatment for cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases, and during the trip, Kim was said to have had an "advanced acute myocardial infarction, complicated with a serious heart shock".^[2]^[3] However, it was reported in December 2012 by South Korean media that the heart attack had instead occurred in a fit of rage over construction faults in a crucial power plant project at Huichon in Chagang Province.^[4]

His son Kim Jong Un was announced as North Korea's next leader with the title of "The Great Successor (Korean: 위대한 계승자)" during the same newscast. The elder Kim's funeral was held on 28 December in Pyongyang, with a mourning period lasting until the following day.^[3]

Announcement

North Korean state media did not report Kim Jong Il's death until 51 hours after it occurred, apparently due to political jockeying and discussions that surrounded the official version of his legacy, as well as agreeing upon the membership of his funeral committee.^[5] On the morning of 19 December, all work units, schools, government agencies, and military personnel were informed of a major announcement to take place at noon.^[6] At noon, Ri Chun-hee, a Korean Central Television news anchor, clad in full black traditional Korean clothing, announced the death of Kim Jong Il to a shocked nation. She was the long time announcer of many important news stories during his tenure as Supreme Leader, and was part of the broadcast team that covered Kim Il Sung's state funeral in 1994, as well as a friend of the late Chon Hyong-kyu, a KCTV news presenter who announced Kim Il Sung's death 17 years prior. During the announcement, a portrait of a smiling, idealized image of Kim Jong Il was released, continuing the tradition of issuing official posthumous portraits of supreme leaders of North Korea after their death.

Following the official notice, a male news anchor wearing a suit and black tie proceeded to announce the entire funeral committee of Kim Jong Il in order of the rankings established by the authorities. The committee had 232 names; Kim Jong Un was ranked first.^[7]

Speculation by South Korea

The head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service said surveillance footage revealed that Kim's personal train, on which he is said to have died, did not move over the weekend. This implied that the train was stationary when North Korean authorities claimed he had died.^[8]^[9] According to editors of The Chosun Ilbo newspaper, it was reported circumstances surrounding Kim's death were inconsistent with what would be generally expected during official business trips: specifically inclement weather conditions were present and the time of day when Kim was supposedly travelling conflicted with his usual circadian rhythm, as Kim was known to be a night owl. Furthermore, a low number of witnesses observed the events.^[10]

Reactions

Many countries, organizations, and individuals issued reactions to the death. According to CNN, reactions were "somewhat muted" in comparison to deaths of other world leaders. Just a few countries reacted immediately after Kim's death was announced on North Korea's KCTV. Some countries, like the United States, took the opportunity to comment on their relationship with South Korea.^[11] South Korea decided not to offer official condolences, mirroring both worsened relations after the ROKS Cheonan sinking and the bombardment of Yeonpyeong and its position after the death of Kim Il-sung in 1994.^[12] The Chinese Foreign Ministry called Kim a "great leader" and added that Beijing would continue to offer its support. Japan expressed condolences and said it hoped Kim's death would not affect the region adversely.^[13] Reactions in Europe were "a mix of hope and watchfulness".^[14] In North Korea, the official reaction was grief and support for the succession of Kim Jong Un, although in other places, there was a more muted reaction.^[15]^[16]

Funeral committee

North Korea announced a 232-member^[17] funeral committee headed by Kim Jong Un that planned and oversaw Kim Jong Il's funeral, which took place on 28 December.^[18] Observers believe the order of names on the list gives clues to the rankings of individuals in the regime's power structure with Kim Jong Un's position on top a further indication that he is Jong-il's successor as supreme leader.^[19]^[20] According to Kim Keun-sik of Kyungnam University, "The list is in the order of members of the standing committee of the Politburo, then members and candidate members. It shows that the party will be stronger power than the military," because Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law Jang Song-taek or O Kuk-ryol, the vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission, are listed further down."^[19]

The National Funeral Committee released the following details on 19 December 2011:

[The National Funeral Committee] notifies that it decided as follows so that the whole party, army, and people can express the most profound regret at the demise of leader Kim Jong Il and mourn him in deep reverence:
His bier will be placed at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace.

Mourning period will be set from Dec. 17 to 29, Juche 100 (2011) and mourners will be received from December 20 to 27.

A farewell-bidding ceremony will be solemnly held in Pyongyang on December 28.

A national memorial service for Kim Jong Il will be held on December 29.

Mourning guns will be boomed in Pyongyang and in provincial seats timed to coincide with the national memorial service in Pyongyang and all the people will observe three minutes' silence and all locomotives and vessels will blow sirens all at once.

All institutions and enterprises across the country will hold mourning events during the mourning period and all provinces, cities and counties will hold memorial services timed to coincide with the national memorial service in Pyongyang.

The institutions and enterprises will hoist flags at half-mast and musical and all other entertainments will be refrained.

Foreign mourning delegations will not be received.
— Korean Central News Agency, 19 December 2011^[21]

Members

The 232 members of the funeral committee were:^[22]

Lying in state

On 20 December, Kim Jong Il's embalmed body lay in state in a glass coffin at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where his father Kim Il Sung is also interred, for an 11-day mourning period prior to the funeral.^[23]^[24] Like his father, Kim's body was covered in a red flag and surrounded by blossoms of his namesake flowers, red kimjongilia. It is expected that the body will be placed next to his father's bier following the funeral and mourning period. As solemn music played, Kim Jong Un entered the hall to view his father's bier, surrounded by military honour guards. He observed a moment of solemn silence, then circled the bier, followed by other officials.^[25]

On 24 December, Kim Jong Un made a third visit to the palace where his father's body is lying in state. At this broadcast, Jang Sung-taek, whom South Korean intelligence assumed would play larger roles supporting the heir, stood with military uniform near young Kim, who wept this time, as he paid respects to Kim Jong Il's body lying in state.^{[citation needed]}

Funeral and memorial service

The funeral itself occurred on 28 December. The 40-kilometre (25 mi), 3-hour funeral procession was covered in snow (which local newscasters described as "heaven's tears") as soldiers beat their chests and called out "Father, Father." A Lincoln Continental limousine^[26] carried a giant portrait of Kim Jong Il. Jong Il's casket, draped by the Korean Workers' Party flag, was carried on top of another Lincoln Continental hearse while Kim Jong Un and his uncle Jang Sung-taek were immediately behind. Army chief of the general staff Ri Yong-ho and defence minister Vice-Marshal Kim Yong-chun walked along the opposite side of the vehicle during the procession segments in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace.^[27]^[28] The procession returned to Kumsusan Palace where Jong-un stood flanked by the top party and military officials who are expected to be his inner circle of advisers as rifles fired 21 times, then saluted again as goose stepping soldiers carrying flags and rifles marched by the palace square.^[29] Reportedly, Jong Il's body will be embalmed and put on display indefinitely in the manner of Kim Il Sung and other Communist leaders such as Lenin, Mao, and Ho Chi Minh.^[30]

The convoy during the funeral procession was composed of lead patrol cars, the funeral hearse and its escorts, military escorts, motorised colour guards, an OB van of Korean Central Television, various cars (including a fleet of black Mercedes), and trucks carrying wreaths and five military bands from the KPA.

On the day of the memorial service, 29 December, Chairman of the Presidium, Kim Yong-nam, gave an address to mourners gathered in Kim Il-sung Square.^[31]

Kim Yong-nam told mourners that "The great heart of comrade Kim Jong-il has ceased to beat... such an unexpected and early departure from us is the biggest and the most unimaginable loss to our party and the revolution," and that North Korea would "transform the sorrow into strength and courage 1,000 times greater under the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un."^[31]

The chairman also affirmed Kim Jong Un's position as his father's successor saying "Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un is our party, military and country's supreme leader who inherits great comrade Kim Jong-il's ideology, leadership, character, virtues, grit and courage".^[32]

General Kim Jong-gak addressing the memorial service on behalf of the military, saying "Our people's military will serve comrade Kim Jong-un at the head of our revolutionary troops and will continue to maintain and complete the Songun accomplishments of great leader Kim Jong-il". Songun refers to Kim Jong Il's policy of prioritising the "military first" in economic decisions.^[31]

Kim Jong Un did not make an address but stood with his head bowed, watching from a balcony of the Grand People's Study House, overlooking the square. He was flanked by his aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, her husband, Jang Sung-taek,^[33] and senior party and military officials.^[32]

After the speeches, and a nationwide observance of three-minute silence, a row of heavy artillery guns were fired off in a 21-gun salute followed by a cacophony of sirens, horns and whistles sounded off simultaneously from trains and ships across the country to mark the end of the mourning period.^[31]^[34]^[35] The assembly concluded with a military band playing The Internationale.^[36] State television then broadcast a military choir and wind band performing The Song of General Kim Jong Il to formally conclude.^[37]

Kim Jong Un's elder brothers, Kim Jong-nam and Kim Jong-chol, are not known to have been in attendance either at the lying in state or on either date, the funeral or the memorial service.^[28]^[31]^[32]

The funeral showcased seven officials who are believed to be mentors or major aides to Kim Jong Un: Jang Song-taek, Mr. Kim's uncle and a vice-chairman of the National Defense Commission; Kim Ki-nam, North Korea's propaganda chief; Choe Tae-bok, the party secretary in charge of external affairs; Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho, head of the military's general staff; Kim Yong-chun, the defence minister; Kim Jong-gak, a four-star general whose job is to monitor the allegiance of other generals; and U Dong-chuk, head of the North's secret police and spy agency.^[38]

On 1 January 2012, the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Kim Jong-nam secretly flew to Pyongyang from Macau on 17 December 2011, after learning about his father's death that day and is presumed to have accompanied Kim Jong Un when paying his last respects to their father. He left after a few days to return to Macau and was not in attendance at the funeral in order to avoid speculation about the succession.^[39]

According to Daily NK, anyone who did not participate in the organised mourning sessions or did not seem genuine enough in their sorrow has been sentenced to at least six months in a labour camp.^[40] Mourners were also barred from wearing hats, gloves or scarves even though the temperature that day was −2.4 °C (27.7 °F)—presumably so authorities could check to make sure they were displaying sufficient grief.^[41] North Korea angrily denied this accusation, blaming it on "reptile media" in the pay of the South Korean government.^[42] A photo slideshow from The Los Angeles Times does show multiple mourners with gloves and scarves.^[43]

Reports of mourning

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed that strange natural phenomena occurred in North Korea around the time of Kim Jong Il's death.^[44] In the past, the North Korean government has been known to encourage stories of miraculous deeds and supernatural events credited to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.^{[citation needed]} KCNA also claimed that more than five million North Koreans, more than 25% of the national population, had shown up to mourn Kim Jong Il.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Wober, Rafael (19 December 2011). "North Korea mourns Kim Jong Il; son is 'successor'". Deseret News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
^ "North Korea's Kim Had 'Serious Heart Shock' Following Long Illness: Text". Bloomberg. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b "North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies 'of heart attack'". BBC News. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2011. died on Saturday
^ "Late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died 'in a fit of rage' over damages at crucial power plant project: report". New York Daily News. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012. South Korea media reports the 'Supreme Commander' suffered a heart attack after learning that a hydroelectric dam had suffered a major leak.
^ "Succession in North Korea: Grief and fear". The Economist. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
^ "Fourteen days which shook the country: The death of Kim Jong Il | NK News". 29 March 2018.
^ "National Funeral Committee Formed". Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
^ Glionna, John (21 December 2011). "South Korea questions story of Kim Jong Il's death". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
^ Nelson, Dean (21 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il's death 'may have been stage managed'". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
^ "Did Kim Jong-il Really Die on a Train?". The Chosun Ilbo. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
^ "World reacts to Kim Jong Il's death". CNN. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ Snyder, Scott A. (19 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il in Death as in Life: Sowing Divisions in South Korea". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "World Reacts to Death of Kim Jong Il". Fox News. Associated Press. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
^ Bryant, Lisa (18 December 2011). "Europe Cautious in Reaction to Kim Jong-Il's Death". Voice of America. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ McCurry, Justin (19 December 2011). "North Koreans' reaction to Kim Jong-il's death is impossible to gauge". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Fourteen days which shook the country: Kim Jong Un's rise to power | NK News". 4 April 2018.
^ "N. Korean leader dies at 69 after decades of iron-fist rule". Yonhap News Agency. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
^ Fackler, Martin (19 December 2011). "Young Heir Faces Uncertain Transition in North Korea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Clues from Kim Jong-il Funeral List". The Chosunilbo. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
^ Branford, Becky (21 December 2011). "Powers behind N Korea's new 'general'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
^ "Notice of National Funeral Committee". Korean Central News Agency. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
^ "KJI Funeral Rankings comparison" (XLSX). NK News. December 2011. Ranking. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
^ Wober, Rafael (20 December 2011). "Kim Jong Il body displayed, NKorea media hail son". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 December 2011.^{[dead link‍]}
^ "North Korea mourns Kim Jong Il; son is 'successor'". Retrieved 19 December 2011.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Kim Jong-un pays respects to Kim Jong-il's body as it is displayed in North Korea, The Telegraph
^ Goodman, J. David (28 December 2011). "Americans Are Prominent at the Funeral of Kim Jong-il". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
^ "North Korea holds two-day state funeral for Kim Jong-il". BBC News. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b Salmon, Andrew; Blair, David (28 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il funeral: Kim Jong-un steps up as nation mourns". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
^ Thousands mourn at N. Korean leader's funeral The Associated Press Posted : Wednesday 28 December 2011 8:48:57
^ Salmon, Andrew (28 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il: a lavish North Korean funeral beneath a leaden sky". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "North Korea holds memorial service for Kim Jong-il". BBC News. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Kim Jong Il son declared 'supreme leader' of North Korea's people, party and military". The Washington Post. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ "North Korea Calls Kim Jong Un 'Supreme Leader'". Associated Press. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ Mullen, Jethro (29 December 2011). "Thousands of North Koreans gather for Kim Jong Il memorial". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ "Farewell ceremony held in Pyongyang". Xinhnua News Agency. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ "Corée du Nord : Kim Jong-un nommé "leader suprême"" [North Korea: Kim Jong-un named "supreme leader"]. Radio-Canada (in French). 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ "N. Korea Ends Mourning With Eulogies Heralding 'Kim Jong Un Era'". Business Week. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
^ "North Korea Declares Kim Jong-un Supreme Leader (NYT)". The New York Times. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
^ "Kim's eldest in 'secret visit' to see body (AFP, January 1, 2012)". News.com.au. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^ Song Min, Choi (11 January 2012). "Harsh Punishments for Poor Mourning". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
^ Seok Young, Lee (3 January 2012). "No Hats, No Scarves, No Gloves!". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
^ Lee, Jiyeon; Mullen, Jethro (16 January 2012). "North Korea denies punishing citizens for not mourning enough". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
^ Martin, Marc (19 December 2011). "North Korea's Kim Jong Il dead at 69". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original (Photo Slideshow) on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
^ "Natural Wonders Observed". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.

External links

Chronological coverage at North Korean Economy Watch
Route of the funeral procession at North Korean Economy Watch

[1] Wober, Rafael (19 December 2011). "North Korea mourns Kim Jong Il; son is 'successor'". Deseret News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.

[2] "North Korea's Kim Had 'Serious Heart Shock' Following Long Illness: Text". Bloomberg. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.

[bbcdeath-3] "North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dies 'of heart attack'". BBC News. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2011. died on Saturday

[4] "Late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died 'in a fit of rage' over damages at crucial power plant project: report". New York Daily News. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012. South Korea media reports the 'Supreme Commander' suffered a heart attack after learning that a hydroelectric dam had suffered a major leak.

[5] "Succession in North Korea: Grief and fear". The Economist. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2011.

[6] "Fourteen days which shook the country: The death of Kim Jong Il | NK News". 29 March 2018.

[7] "National Funeral Committee Formed". Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.

[8] Glionna, John (21 December 2011). "South Korea questions story of Kim Jong Il's death". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.

[9] Nelson, Dean (21 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il's death 'may have been stage managed'". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.

[10] "Did Kim Jong-il Really Die on a Train?". The Chosun Ilbo. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.

[11] "World reacts to Kim Jong Il's death". CNN. 20 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.

[12] Snyder, Scott A. (19 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il in Death as in Life: Sowing Divisions in South Korea". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.

[13] "World Reacts to Death of Kim Jong Il". Fox News. Associated Press. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.

[14] Bryant, Lisa (18 December 2011). "Europe Cautious in Reaction to Kim Jong-Il's Death". Voice of America. Retrieved 13 September 2020.

[15] McCurry, Justin (19 December 2011). "North Koreans' reaction to Kim Jong-il's death is impossible to gauge". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2020.

[16] "Fourteen days which shook the country: Kim Jong Un's rise to power | NK News". 4 April 2018.

[17] "N. Korean leader dies at 69 after decades of iron-fist rule". Yonhap News Agency. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.

[18] Fackler, Martin (19 December 2011). "Young Heir Faces Uncertain Transition in North Korea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.

[chosun-19] "Clues from Kim Jong-il Funeral List". The Chosunilbo. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

[20] Branford, Becky (21 December 2011). "Powers behind N Korea's new 'general'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.

[21] "Notice of National Funeral Committee". Korean Central News Agency. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2011.

[22] "KJI Funeral Rankings comparison" (XLSX). NK News. December 2011. Ranking. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.

[23] Wober, Rafael (20 December 2011). "Kim Jong Il body displayed, NKorea media hail son". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 December 2011.^{[dead link‍]}

[24] "North Korea mourns Kim Jong Il; son is 'successor'". Retrieved 19 December 2011.^{[dead link‍]}

[25] Kim Jong-un pays respects to Kim Jong-il's body as it is displayed in North Korea, The Telegraph

[26] Goodman, J. David (28 December 2011). "Americans Are Prominent at the Funeral of Kim Jong-il". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.

[27] "North Korea holds two-day state funeral for Kim Jong-il". BBC News. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.

[telegraph-28] Salmon, Andrew; Blair, David (28 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il funeral: Kim Jong-un steps up as nation mourns". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2011.

[29] Thousands mourn at N. Korean leader's funeral The Associated Press Posted : Wednesday 28 December 2011 8:48:57

[30] Salmon, Andrew (28 December 2011). "Kim Jong-il: a lavish North Korean funeral beneath a leaden sky". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[BBCdec28-31] "North Korea holds memorial service for Kim Jong-il". BBC News. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.

[WaPo-32] "Kim Jong Il son declared 'supreme leader' of North Korea's people, party and military". The Washington Post. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[33] "North Korea Calls Kim Jong Un 'Supreme Leader'". Associated Press. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[34] Mullen, Jethro (29 December 2011). "Thousands of North Koreans gather for Kim Jong Il memorial". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[35] "Farewell ceremony held in Pyongyang". Xinhnua News Agency. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[36] "Corée du Nord : Kim Jong-un nommé "leader suprême"" [North Korea: Kim Jong-un named "supreme leader"]. Radio-Canada (in French). 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[37] "N. Korea Ends Mourning With Eulogies Heralding 'Kim Jong Un Era'". Business Week. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2011.

[38] "North Korea Declares Kim Jong-un Supreme Leader (NYT)". The New York Times. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.

[39] "Kim's eldest in 'secret visit' to see body (AFP, January 1, 2012)". News.com.au. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

[40] Song Min, Choi (11 January 2012). "Harsh Punishments for Poor Mourning". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.

[41] Seok Young, Lee (3 January 2012). "No Hats, No Scarves, No Gloves!". Daily NK. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.

[42] Lee, Jiyeon; Mullen, Jethro (16 January 2012). "North Korea denies punishing citizens for not mourning enough". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.

[43] Martin, Marc (19 December 2011). "North Korea's Kim Jong Il dead at 69". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original (Photo Slideshow) on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.

[44] "Natural Wonders Observed". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.

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