Death and state funeral of Kim Jong Il

Death and state funeral of Kim Jong Il
The death of Kim Jong Il was reported by North Korean state television news on 19 December 2011. 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". 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.
His son Kim Jong Un was announced as North Korea's next leader with the title of "The Great Successor" 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.
Announcement
North Korean State media did not report Kim Jong Il's death until 51 hours after it occurred, apparently due to the political jockeying and discussions that surrounded the official version of Jong Il's legacy, as well as agreeing upon the membership of the Funeral Committee of Kim Jong Il. 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. 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 was the one who made the announcement of Kim Il Sung's death 17 years past. 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 233 names; Kim Jong Un was ranked first.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. Reactions in Europe were "a mix of hope and watchfulness". In North Korea, the official reaction was grief and support for the succession of Kim Jong Un.
Funeral committee
North Korea announced a 232-member funeral committee headed by Kim Jong Un that planned and oversaw Kim Jong-Il's funeral, which took place on 28 December. 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. 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."
The National Funeral Committee released the following details on 19 December 2011:
Members
The 232 members of the funeral committee were:
Kim Jong Un
Kim Yong-nam
Choe Yong-rim
Ri Yong-ho
Kim Yong-chun
Jon Pyong-ho
Kim Kuk-thae
Kim Ki-nam
Choe Thae-bok
Yang Hyong-sop
Kang Sok-ju
Pyon Yong-rip
Ri Yong-mu
Kim Kyong-hui
Kim Yang-gon
Kim Yong-il
Pak To-chun
Choe Ryong-hae
Jang Song-thaek
Ju Kyu-chang
Kim Rak-hui
Thae Jong-su
Kim Phyong-hae
Kim Jong-gak
U Tong-chuk
Kim Chang-sop
Mun Kyong-dok
Ri Thae-nam
O Kuk-ryol
Kim Chol-man
Ri Ul-sol
Jon Ha-chol
Kang Nung-su
Ro Tu-chol
Jo Pyong-ju
Han Kwang-bok
Paek Se-bong
Ri Yong-su
Choe Hui-jong
O Il-jong
Kim Jong-im
Chae Hui-jong
Kim Ki-ryong
Jang Pyong-gyu
Kim Pyong-ryul
Hong In-bom
Ri Man-gon
Ju Yong-sik
Kwak Pom-gi
O Su-yong
Ro Pae-gwon
Pak Thae-dok
Kim Hi-thaek
Kang Yang-mo
Rim Kyong-man
Kim Kyong-ok
Kim Myong-guk
Kim Won-hong
Hyon Chol-hae
Han Tong-gun
Jo Kyong-chol
Pak Jae-gyong
Pyon In-son
Yun Jong-rin
Jong Myong-do
Ri Pyong-chol
Choe Sang-ryo
Kim Yong-chol
Kang Phyo-yong
Kim Hyong-ryong
Ri Yong-hwan
Kim Chun-sam
Choe Kyong-song
Ri Myong-su
Jon Hui-jong
Ri Yong-gil
Hyon Yong-chol
Choe Pu-il
Yang Tong-hun
Ri Pong-juk
Kim Song-chol
Pak Kwang-chol
Ri Pyong-sam
Jon Chang-bok
O Kum-chol
Kim In-sik
Kim Song-dok
Ryo Chun-sok
Pak Sung-won
Ri Yong-chol
Pak Ui-chun
Kim Hyong-sik
Kim Thae-bong
Jon Kil-su
Ri Mu-yong
An Jong-su
Ri Ryong-nam
Ryu Yong-sop
Pak Myong-chol
Kim Yong-jin
Jang Chol
Song Ja-rip
Kim Jong-suk
Kang Tong-yun
Cha Sung-su
Ryang Man-gil
Yun Tong-hyon
Ko Pyong-hyon
Ri Pong-dok
Pak Jong-gun
Choe Yong-dok
Jong In-guk
Jon Ryong-guk
Ri Hyong-gun
Hwang Sun-hui
Paek Kye-ryong
Kim Tong-il
Kim Tong-i
Ri Jae-il
Pak Pong-ju
Jong Myong-hak
Kang Kwan-il
Hwang Pyong-so
Kwon Hyok-bong
Hong Sung-mu
Kim U-ho
Han Chang-sun
Ri Chun-il
Ri Thae-sop
Jo Song-hwan
Tong Yong-il
Ri Chang-han
Ko Su-il
Ri Kuk-jun
Sin Sung-hun
Ri Thae-chol
Yang In-guk
Ri Hi-su
Ri Chol
Hyon Sang-ju
Ri Myong-gil
Ro Song-sil
Tong Jong-ho
Kang Min-chol
Kim Hui-yong
Jo Yong-chol
Hwang Hak-won
An Tong-chun
Paek Ryong-chon
Hong Kwan-sun
Ri Su-yong
Kim Yong-ho
Pang Ri-sun
Choe Chun-sik
Ri Je-son
Ri Sang-gun
Ri Hong-sop
Cha Yong-myong
Kang Kwan-ju
Thae Hyong-chol
Kim Pyong-hun
Kim Kye-gwan
Han Chang-nam
Kim Chang-myong
Jon Chang-rim
O Chol-san
Son Chong-nam
Jong Un-hak
Cha Kyong-il
Kang Ki-sop
Choi Tae-il
Choe Yong-do
Ri Yong-ju
Jon Kwang-rok
Ri Chan-hwa
So Tong-myong
Jon Song-ung
Ji Jae-ryong
Kim Yong-jae
Ri Yong-ho
Hong So-hon
Kim Tong-il
Kim Tong-un
Kim Pong-ryong
Jo Jae-yong
Choe Chan-gon
Ryom In-yun
Kim Chon-ho
Jang Ho-chan
Song Kwang-chol
Ri Ki-su
Ri Jong-sik
Choe Hyon
Jang Myong-hak
Kang Hyong-bong
Kim Chung-gol
Kim Yong-gwang
Choe Kwan-jun
Jang Yong-gol
Kim Myong-sik
Ho Song-gil
No Kwang-chol
Jong Pong-gun
Pak Chang-bom
Choe Pong-ho
Jong Mong-phil
Jon Kyong-son
Ri Song-gwon
Choe Yong
Kim Thae-mun
Kim Yong-suk
Cha Jin-sun
Ri Min-chol
Ri Il-nam
Kim Chang-su
Pak Myong-sun
Choe Pae-jin
Kim Chol
Sim Chol-ho
O Ryong-il
Kye Yong-sam
Ryu Hyon-sik
Ko Myong-hui
Pang Yong-uk
Jang Jong-ju
Ho Kwang-uk
Ji Tong-sik
Jong Pong-sok
Choe Kwon-su
Kim Yong-dae
Ryu Mi-yong
Lying in state
On 20 December, 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. 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.
On Saturday 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.
Funeral and memorial service
The funeral itself occurred on 28 December. The , 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 carried a giant portrait of 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. 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. 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.
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.
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."
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".
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.
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, and senior party and military officials.
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. The assembly concluded with a military band playing The Internationale. State television then broadcast a military choir and wind band performing The Song of General Kim Jong Il to formally conclude.
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.
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.
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.
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. Mourners were also barred from wearing hats, gloves or scarves even though the temperature that day was —presumably so authorities could check to make sure they were displaying sufficient grief. North Korea angrily denied this accusation, blaming it on "reptile media" in the pay of the South Korean government. A photo slideshow from The Los Angeles Times does show multiple mourners with gloves and scarves.
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. 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. 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.
See also
Death and state funeral of Kim Il Sung
References
External links
Chronological coverage at North Korean Economy Watch
Route of the funeral procession at North Korean Economy Watch
2011 in North Korea
History of the Workers' Party of Korea
Kim, Jong-il
Death
Kim, Jong-il
Kim, Jong-il
21st century in Pyongyang
December 2011 events in Asia