Kim Jong Il's body laid out for mourners

An image from North Korean state television, broadcast on Dec. 20, 2011, shows what is said to be the body of Kim Jong Il on display in a glass coffin. / CBS

PYONGYANG, North Korea - The body of North Korea's long-time ruler Kim Jong Il was laid out in a glass coffin Tuesday as weeping mourners filled public plazas and state media fed a budding personality cult around his third son, hailing him as "born of heaven."

North Korea's official television showed still photos of Kim in the coffin surrounded by wreaths, his body covered with a red blanket and his head on a white pillow. A giant red curtain covered a wall behind Kim.

Kim Jong Un — Kim's third son and successor — visited the coffin along with top military and Workers' Party officials and held a "solemn ceremony" as the country mourned, state TV said. One woman apparently wiped tears from her eyes.

As "CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley reports, what's happening inside North Korea now, and what will happen in the coming days and weeks, remains largely a mystery.

In spite of the public rally around the young Kim Jong Un, his youth and lack of command experience relative to the senior military leadership in the country, mean even seasoned North Korea observers can't be sure who's in charge of the impoverished nuclear power with a history of unprovoked violence. (Watch the full report in the player above)

Kim died of a massive heart attack caused by overwork and stress, according to the North's media. He was 69 — though some experts question the official accounts of his birth date and location.

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Although there were no signs of unrest or discord in Pyongyang's somber streets, Kim's death and the possibility of a power struggle in a country seeking nuclear weapons and known for its secrecy and unpredictability have heightened tensions in the region.

With the country in an 11-day period of official mourning, flags were flown at half-staff at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings. The streets of Pyongyang were quiet, but throngs of people gathered at landmarks honoring Kim, footage from Associated Press Television News in Pyongyang showed.

Kim's body was in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of his father — national founder Kim Il Sung — has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.

The state funeral is to be held there on Dec. 28.

34 Photos

Kim Jong Il, 1941-2011

"Our General (Kim Jong Il) is our people's benevolent father," said Ri Ho Il, a lecturer at the Korean Revolutionary History Museum. "He defended our people's happiness, carrying on his forced march both night and day."

North Korean officials say they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning period.

North Korean state media have given clear indications that Kim Jong Un will succeed him. Since Kim's death they have stepped up their lavish praise of the son, indicating an effort to strengthen a cult of personality around him similar to that of his father and — much more strongly — of Kim Il Sung.

The Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday described Kim Jong Un as a "a great person born of heaven," a propaganda term only his father Kim Jong Il and his grandfather Kim Il Sung had enjoyed. The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, added in an editorial that Kim Jong Un is "the spiritual pillar and the lighthouse of hope" for the military and the people.

It described the twenty-something Kim as "born of Mount Paektu," one of Korea's most cherished sites and Kim Jong Il's official birthplace. On Monday, the North said in a dispatch that the people and the military "have pledged to uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un" and called him a "great successor" of the country's revolutionary philosophy of juche, or self reliance.

But concerns remain over whether the transition will be a smooth one.

Soon after the death was announced Monday, President Barack Obama agreed by phone with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to closely monitor developments. Japan's government also said it was being vigilant for any "unexpected developments."

South Korea's military has been put on high alert, and experts warned that the next few days could be a crucial turning point for the North, which though impoverished by economic mismanagement and repeated famine, has a relatively well-supported, 1.2 million-strong armed forces.

Kim's death could set back efforts by the United States and others to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. Concerns are also high that Kim Jong Un — being young and largely untested — may feel he needs to prove himself by precipitating a crisis or displaying his swagger on the international stage.

Kim Jong Il was in power for 17 years after the death of his father, and was groomed for power years before that. Kim Jong Un only emerged as the likely heir over the past year.

North Korea conducted at least one short-range missile test Monday, South Korean officials said. But they saw them as a routine drill.

"The sudden death of Kim Jong Il has plunged the isolated state of North Korea into a period of major uncertainty. There are real concerns that heir-apparent Kim Jong Un has not had sufficient time to form the necessary alliances in the country to consolidate his future as leader of the country," said Sarah McDowall, a senior analyst with U.S.-based consultants IHS.

Some analysts, however, said Kim's death was unlikely to plunge the country into chaos because it already was preparing for a transition. Kim Jong Il indicated a year ago that Kim Jong Un would be his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts.

South Korea's president urged his people to remain calm while his Cabinet and the Parliament convened emergency meetings Tuesday. Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said his government is refraining from moves that may exasperate North Korea.

[pbaird2]

North Korea is a huge science lab where we can observe how intellectual deprivation can control human thought processes. We often wonder how cults form and continue without some person of reason questioning the mantra. This country of primitive social skills give sociology and psychology fields a wonderful trove of insight.

[davcor2]

I noticed one stark point in this. The mourners seemed to be the "well to do" class . . . people that were doing well because they were favored by connections. Look at the photos closely. The masses don't seem to be in mourning. They haven't received anything from their former leader except lack of everything and misery. Tough to feel sorrow for someone that has failed to provide

[hemusbull]

Surreal
Absolutely unimaginable orwellian pictures of the NK reality - from a'la Lenin glass coffin to the weeping citizens...What a peopleants the most brutal dictatorship made from its own population!

[Mungam44]

Stand in line and "cry or die" was the ultimatum given by the North Korean military as the propaganda cameras prepared to roll.
Let's hope that Gremlin II doesn't try to show his new given power by doing something boneheaded stupid. We have 28,500 military personnel on the border of North and South who should stay out of harm's way.

[rexxcars]

I am SO not caring that this monster is dead. He lived the life of a rockstar while abjectly torturing and killing millions of his own people. All in the name of socialism. Whats his name in the WH and his 100K-vacation-taking spouse are examples of this, while unemployment jumped from 6% to 14% in the past 3 years. Vote wisely in 2012.

[signseeker1717]

A bizarre comparison between a dictator in a totalitarian state and a democratically-elected President of a Republic.

[pbaird2]

This is the type of ignorance which allows a country such as North Korea to flourish. When the electorate is ignorant it is easy for greed and egomania to wrangle control of the government.

[ammo17]

lets send hillary clinton to the funeral and ask the new leader if we can have the USS PUEBLO back and promise we will never spy on them again.

[dantom39]

Who from the US will attend Jimma Carter Madiline Albright Joe Biden and what media will cover MSNBC?

[kainos2]

I wonder how many of the "mourners" are appearing under the coercion of their own government - under the threat of torture or death. Their government controls EVERYTHING - every small, insignificant detail that they think will affect the international "image" of North Korea. On the rare occassion when they permit an international visitor, they even control such things as how many people are seen walking dogs in their parks to enhance their image.

[Leadfootedrabbit]

Reread Orwell's 1984, and you will begin to understand the methods used to get inside the minds of the hapless North Korean people. http://www.leadfootedrabbit.com/2011/12/stockholm-syndrome.html

[jub333]

1 Thessalonians 5:2,3 - For YOU yourselves know quite well that Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. 3 Whenever it is that they are saying: "Peace and security!" then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them just as the pang of distress upon a pregnant woman; and they will by no means escape.

[hawkeyenick]

take your bible beating elsewhere, it's culturally insensitive

most of the world aren't christian, you realize this, right?

[rexxcars]

@hawkeyenick December 20, 2011 5:05 AM EST says:
"take your bible beating elsewhere, it's culturally insensitive
most of the world aren't christian, you realize this, right?"

And your objection to a fellow American's opinion is even more insensitive, bro. He is free to express anything that doesn't deride someone else. You, however, are wrong to single him out personally. He said nothing against you personally. Get a thicker skin, my friend, and defend someone's right to express themselves. Your personal attack is not part of free speech.