PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korea's next leader escorted his father's hearse in an elaborate state funeral on a bitter, snowy day Wednesday, bowing and saluting in front of tens of thousands of citizens who wailed and stamped their feet in grief for Kim Jong Il.
Son and successor Kim Jong Un was head mourner on the gray day in Pyongyang, walking with one hand on the black hearse that carried his father's coffin on its roof, his other hand raised in salute, his head bowed against the wind.
At the end of the 2 1/2-hour procession, rifles fired 21 times as Kim Jong Un stood flanked by the top party and military officials who are expected to be his inner circle of advisers. Kim then saluted again as goose-stepping soldiers carrying flags and rifles marched by.(19 images)
Son and successor Kim Jong Un was head mourner on the gray day in Pyongyang, walking with one hand on the black hearse that carried his father's coffin on its roof, his other hand raised in salute, his head bowed against the wind.
At the end of the 2 1/2-hour procession, rifles fired 21 times as Kim Jong Un stood flanked by the top party and military officials who are expected to be his inner circle of advisers. Kim then saluted again as goose-stepping soldiers carrying flags and rifles marched by.(19 images)
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A portrait of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is carried past mourners during his funeral procession through the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Kyodo News
A portrait of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is carried past mourners during his funeral procession through the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Kyodo News
The funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il passes by the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP
A hearse carrying the coffin of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, center red, makes its way during his funeral procession through the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Kyodo News
North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong Un, center, salutes as he walks beside the hearse carrying the body of his late father and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the funeral procession in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP
North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong Un, front right, walks beside the hearse carrying the body of his late father and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the funeral procession in Pyongyang, North Korea. Behind Kim Jong Un, in order are Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law and vice chairman of the National Defense Commission and Workers Party officials Choe Thae Bok. At far right is Ri Yong Ho, the Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army. Behind him is People's Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong Chun. AP / Korean Central News Agency
North Korea's next leader, Kim Jong Un, front center, salutes beside the hearse carrying the body of his late father and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during the funeral procession in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011 AP / Kyodo News
Mourners surround the hearse carrying the coffin of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during his funeral procession through the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea. AP / Korean Central News Agency
People line the streets as the hearse carrying late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is driven past during his funeral procession in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo) AP
Mourners cry during the funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Kyodo News
Mourners cry during the funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Kyodo News
Military officers cry during a funeral procession for the late leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, FRANCE, HONG KONG, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA AP
Mourners grieve during the funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP
Pyongyang residents sweep snow from the streets before the funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP
Pyongyang residents sweep snow from the streets before the funeral procession for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday Dec. 28, 2011. AP
Anti-North Korean protesters rally to celebrate the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il following his funeral Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. North Korea on Wednesday held a funeral for their late leader, who, according to state media, died of a heart attack Dec. 17 at age 69. AP / Wally Santana
Television screens show North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's funeral procession in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. AP / Ahn Young-joon
An anti-North Korean protester wields a pipe as a group pushes to get to a pro-North Korean activist's office after it was rumored he went to the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's funeral, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. North Korea on Wednesday held a funeral for their late leader, who, according to state media, died of a heart attack Dec. 17 at age 69. AP / Wally Santana
An anti-North Korean protester climbs a wall to avoid police in order to get to a pro-North Korean activist's office after it was rumored he went to the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's funeral, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. AP / Wally Santana
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