Kim Jong Il funeral: Thousands mourn in North Korea

Tens of thousands of Pyongyang residents bid an emotional farewell to their late leader Kim Jong Il as a black hearse drove through snow-covered streets, while North Korean state media showed citizens lined up in freezing weather shouting, wailing, and some pounding chests.

The three-hour long procession started Wednesday at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where the body of Kim Jong Il has been laid since the death announcement on December 19. Kim died of a heart attack on the December 17 while on a train journey, according to North Korean media.

Tens of thousands of military officials in uniforms stood still waiting at the plaza in front of the palace.

At 10 a.m., the hearse carrying Kim's flower-decorated coffin atop made a grand entrance. Kim's successor, Kim Jong Un, escorted the hearse on foot with his left hand holding onto the sedan's side mirror. On the left was top military leader Ri Yong Ho, and just behind the young Kim was his uncle and Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law Jang Sung-Taek.

Jang is believed to be the power behind the scenes. "They are trying to stick a very powerful front image," said Lee Jung-Hoon, professor of international relations at Yonsei University.

The entire procession is carefully choreographed "to make sure that the entire nation mourns and they pledge their loyalty" to these handful of men in the inner circle.