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Dead Leader of the Day: Snow fell on Pyongyang as the funeral procession of North Korea’s “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il snaked its way from the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to Kim Il Sung Square and back again during today’s three-hour-long official state ceremony.
Leading the cortege was Kim’s “great successor,” his son Kim Jong Un, who was accompanied by senior officials.
More notable, however, were the vehicles by their side: The three jet-black, American-made, Lincoln Continental limos carrying Kim’s body, his official portrait, and an elaborate funeral wreath.
The mid-70’s models apparently belonged to Kim’s father, North Korea’s founder Kim Il-sung. According to experts, one of them may be the very same vehicle used to transport the elder Kim’s corpse after his passing in 1994.
North Koreans gathered around Kim Jong-il’s hearse and wailed as loud as they could as the procession passed by.
“All streets in Pyongyang and all towns and villages throughout the country are now inundated with people sweeping away snow before bidding their last farewell to the leader,” reported North Korea’s news agency, KCNA. “They, who spent a sleepless night, missing him, have turned out in all roads covered by him in his lifetime.”
Watch the mourners express their ostensible grief below:
[cnn / thelede / photos: in_focus / video: @alex_ogle.]
