The funeral of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has begun in Pyongyang in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people. A three-hour long procession started today/ Wednesday at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the body of Kim Jong Il has been laid since the death announcement last week. Kim's successor, Kim Jong Un, and senior North Korean officials attended the funeral ceremony.

North Korea did not invite any foreign delegation, but allowed senior foreign officials in Pyongyang to participate in the service.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said the inter-Korean Kaesong industrial park has been closed for two days for the mourning following a North Korean request.