ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> North Koreans observed three minutes of silence in remembrance of departed leader Kim Jong-il on Thursday (December 29).<br/> Thousands of mourners bowed their heads in prayer on Kim II-sung square in Pyongyang as a siren went off at 12 noon.<br/> Trains were halted, and hats were taken off by military officials during the silent minutes.<br/> Civilians stood still on snow-covered streets across Pyongyang.<br/> The minutes' silence followed a national memorial which eulogised the "Dear Leader" and his accomplishments.<br/> It was reportedly observed across the nation of 25 million people, which Kim Jong-il had ruled for 17 years since his father died in 1994.<br/> His son Jong-un is set to take over the reins in the reclusive state, which experts say may be close to attaining nuclear weapons capacity.<br/> North Korea has been in a period of mourning, since Kim Jong-il passed away on December 17.
