Kim Jong Il's Funeral: Military First

The highly secretive state funeral revealed exactly who was about to take power, in case there was any doubt.

Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Pyongyang today for Kim Jong Il’s highly choreographed state funeral. The 25-mile, three 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.” Kim Jung Un, the Dear Leader's successor and head mourner, publicly marched with top party and military officials including Jang Song Thaek and Ri Yong Ho. Kim Jong Il's two other sons, Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Chol, were not seen. Aside from foreign diplomats, few outsiders were invited to attend the funeral. In South Korea, defectors released 10 balloons to the North which would drop 200,000 pamphlets urging people to challenge their government. On Thursday, a second national memorial service will be held so mourners can continue to grieve the man who pursued nuclear weapons while thousands in his country starved to death.

Image courtesy of Reuters.