ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
North Koreans observed three minutes of silence in remembrance of departed leader Kim Jong-il on Thursday (December 29).
Thousands of mourners bowed their heads in prayer on Kim II-sung square in Pyongyang as a siren went off at 12 noon.
Trains were halted, and hats were taken off by military officials during the silent minutes.
Civilians stood still on snow-covered streets across Pyongyang.
The minutes' silence followed a national memorial which eulogised the "Dear Leader" and his accomplishments.
It was reportedly observed across the nation of 25 million people, which Kim Jong-il had ruled for 17 years since his father died in 1994.
His son Jong-un is set to take over the reins in the reclusive state, which experts say may be close to attaining nuclear weapons capacity.
North Korea has been in a period of mourning, since Kim Jong-il passed away on December 17.
