North Korea-- Thousands of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Preparations are ready and expect this to be a very dramatic event, just like the funeral of Kim's late father in 1994.
North Korea's state media hasn't given any details of Wednesday's funeral, and foreign guests are barred. But political analysts predicted a large re-run in 1994, a farewell funeral for Kim's father and founding president Kim il-sung.
"The grief for Kim Il-sung was genuine, with many people expressing real sorrow. The mood this time appears to be slightly different.
"The regime used the 1994 funeral to strengthen public allegiance and loyalty to new leader Kim Jong-il. His own funeral this week will be staged in a similar way."
'Great successor'
The communist state has proclaimed Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong-un, the "great successor" since his father died on December 17 aged 69.
But while Kim Jong-il had 20 years to prepare for his takeover, Kim Jong-un has had barely three.
Analysts are watching developments closely for clues to who will gain power and who may have fallen out of favour in the next era of leadership.
Mourning will officially end on Thursday with a nationwide memorial service including a three-minute silence at noon.
"Mourning shots will be fired in Pyongyang and all provincial units across the country, and three minutes of silence will be observed by people across the country," the North's official news agency said.
On Monday, Kim Jong-un met the heads of two South Korean delegations visiting Pyongyang to pay respects to his father.
Lee Hee-ho, widow of late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, and Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun paid respects to the late leader at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace and expressed condolences to Jong-un.
"I hope that our visit to the North will help improve South-North relations," Lee said before she crossed the border.
Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il held the first-ever inter-Korea summit in 2000 and Hyundai pioneered cross-border business projects.
The delegates returned home on Tuesday.
