South Korea invited to Kim Jong-il’s funeral

According to state media, North Korean government did not invite foreign dignitaries as preparations for Kim Jong-il’s funeral are conducted.

However, South Koreans were encouraged by the government to pay respects at the ceremony in Pyongyang next Wednesday.

North Korean warned that relations with the South could become unpleasant should requests from citizens wishing to attend the funeral be turned down by the South Korean government.

The government in Seoul authorised a small group of individuals to attend the ceremony while deciding not to send a delegation and imposing a travel ban on ordinary citizens.

Among the South Koreans attending the wife of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, Lee Hee-ho. She will be allowed to attend because representatives had been sent from the North for her husband’s funeral in 2009.

Chairwoman of the Hyundai group, a major investor in the North, Hyun Jeong-eun will be accompanying Lee Hee-ho. Hyun Jeong-eun is expected by some to take the opportunity to discuss North Korea’s seizure of Hyundai assets at Mount Kumgang earlier this year.

Mourning in Pyongyang will continue until December 29 where thousands of people are currently viewing Kim’s body or bowing before portraits located across the city.