The nationwide memorial ceremony for North Korea’s departed leader wrapped up two days of brilliantly choreographed mourning events while setting a very public seal on the successorship of the third-generation Kim family member to hold power in Pyongyang.
Thursday’s memorial was less emotional than Wednesday’s funeral, but like the previous event, demonstrated that the regime has not lost any of its power to mobilise masses. Hundreds of thousands of people were packed into Kim Il-sung Square in the heart of the capital.
It also indicated that the Korean People’s Army, which played a prominent role in the funeral ceremony, remains central to this hardline, ultra-nationalist state dominated by a “military first” policy. The crowd appeared to be predominantly, though not entirely, composed of soldiers.
Above all, it was the clearest sign yet that the third-generation succession of the Kim dynasty is a sealed deal.
The young leader Kim Jong-un’s only official title is vice-chairman of the Korean Workers Party Central Military Commission, but he has, following his father Kim Jong-il’s passing on Dec 17, been lauded by state media as “successor” and “leader”. » | Andrew Salmon in Seoul | Thursday, December 29, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Kim Jong-un declared 'supreme leader' in North Korea: Kim Jong-un publicly endorsed as new leader as crowds gather at memorial service for his father Kim Jong-il » | Justin McCurry in Osaka | Wednesday, December 28, 2011
