North Commands South: Show Respect to Kim Jong Il

Kim Jong Il’s death is leading to more tension between the Koreas: North Korea warned its neighbor today that it must “show proper respect” over Kim’s death by allowing citizens to attend his funeral. The statement accused South Korea of “insult and mockery” because it expressed sympathy over the North Korean leader’s death but will not send an official delegation to his funeral. The New York Times notes that the North has promised to open its air and land border to allow South Korean funeral-goers into the country.

South Korea has granted authorization to a few citizens who wish to attend Kim’s funeral, including the late President Kim Dae-jung’s widows, but North Korea wants its neighbor to allow anyone to attend. That’s not the only drama related to the guest list for Wednesday’s funeral: The Guardian reports that, while a Japanese celebrity magician known as Princess Tenko has been invited, Kim Jong Il’s oldest son has not. Kim Jong Nam was exiled after being caught in 2001 trying to enter Japan on a fake passport; he said he wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland. (More Kim Jong Il stories.)