New leader Kim Jong-un and his wife paid their respects at the memorial hall in Pyongyang which houses the late leader's body. 

 

Scientists who worked on last week's long-range rocket launch also attended, state television said. 

 

Kim Jong-il died on 17 December 2011; his death was announced two days later. 

 

Leadership of the communist state - which remains¹ unable to feed its people - passed to his third son Kim Jong-un. 

 

Under his leadership North Korea has conducted two long-range rocket launches - actions condemned² by the US and Pyongyang's neighbours as banned tests of missile technology. 

 

The launch in April failed, but last week's attempt appears to have been a success, placing a satellite into orbit. 

 

The US, Japan and South Korea are seeking a response in the UN Security Council, which banned North Korea from missile tests after nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. 

 

 

North Korea held a mass rally on Friday to mark the rocket's success and another on Sunday to commemorate³ Kim Jong-il.

 

On Monday, the country's top leaders gathered at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed⁴（使不朽，防腐） bodies of both Kim Jong-il and his father, national founder⁵ Kim Il-sung, lie.

 

The ceremony, broadcast live on state television, showed a series of officials bowing before statues of the two late leaders. 

 

On Sunday ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam praised Kim Jong-il's role in the rocket launch at the giant rally in a Pyongyang sports stadium. 

 

"The successful launch of our Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite is also another victory achieved by our military and people, by faithfully following the teachings of the great leader [Kim Jong-il]," he said. 

 

The UN Security Council last week condemned the launch and said it would continue consultations⁶ on an appropriate response.

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