BBC News - North Korea holds two-day state funeral for Kim Jong-il

North Korea has begun two days of funeral services for its late leader Kim Jong-il, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong-il has been lying in state since his death on 17 December

Few details are known and there will be no foreign delegations but a procession is expected on Wednesday, echoing that for Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, in 1994.

As then, the funeral is expected to be used to cement the succession of new leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said.

He has been lying in state since then.

'Memorial service'

No schedule has been released for the commemorations and as of 0230GMT North Korean state television was not broadcasting events live.

But Itar-Tass agency, the only Russian news organisation operating in the reclusive country, reported that a funeral service had begun.

If the funeral does mirror 1994, there will be much pomp and military might, with tens of thousands of weeping North Koreans.

Foreign diplomats have been asked to assemble at a stadium to be taken to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace - where Mr Kim is lying in state - for a funeral procession through Pyongyang, AP news agency reports.

As in 1994, observers say there will probably be a large photograph of the late leader, smiling, on prominent display.

Citizens will line the streets, with many of the women in traditional black dresses.

There have been many images of distraught citizens released by state media since the death. Early on Wednesday it broadcast more footage of weeping mourners.

Thursday is expected to feature a three-minute silence at noon local time, followed by trains and ships sounding horns. The national memorial service will then begin.

The inter-Korean Kaesong industrial park has been closed for two days for the mourning following a North Korean request, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports.

Closely watched

Kim Jong-il was not in the funeral motorcade for his father's death and observers will be watching to see how prominent a role Kim Jong-un - who is Mr Kim's third son - plays.

Kim Jong-un's name is first on the list of members of the "national funeral committee" published by the main North Korean news agency, and the committee did take part in Kim Il-sung's funeral.

Kim Jong-il's two other sons are not members of the committee and have not been seen during the mourning period.

State media have portrayed Kim Jong-un as leader since his father's death. On Wednesday state media said he had paid a fifth visit to his father's body to pay his respects.

The younger Kim is thought to be in his late 20s and has very little political experience.

Kim Jong-il was in the process of formalising him as his successor when he died but the transition was not complete, leaving regional neighbours fearful of a power struggle in the nuclear-armed pariah state.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper has described Kim Jong-un as the head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, meaning that he now controls one of the country's highest decision-making bodies.

The newspaper earlier gave him the title of "supreme commander" of the armed forces.

Analysts say he will be surrounded by a group of experienced military insiders and relatives, as the Pyongyang elite attempts to hold on to power.