North Korea holds memorial service for Kim Jong-il

It was the ‘grand finale’ of 13 days of mourning.

Kim Jong-il’s son and successor, top officials and tens of thousands of troops and civilians have paid a huge public tribute to North Korea’s late leader.

Amid the memorial service in Pyongyang in sub-zero temperatures, marks of respect were paid. Sirens rang out and three minutes of silence were observed for Kim who died of a heart attack aged 69, according to state media.

The day after he accompanied his father’s hearse at a giant funeral service, Kim Jong-un was publicly proclaimed “supreme leader” of the party and army.

Still under 30, he is now the third generation of the Kim dynasty to run the reclusive nuclear nation.

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