Mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
On the second full day in the DPRK, we had to be up early in the morning again this time to visit the mausoleum where the great leaders are currently lying in state, sadly there are very few photographs here as photography was forbidden for most part of the morning!
We arrived at the entrance around 8am and had to wait until about 9 for us to be able to enter, we were instructed how to bow, how to show general respect with our arms and where to remain silent. The bowing was fairly straight forward, just a case of leaning forward with our arms in a straight line. When in the mausoleum we were briefed that in the DPRK putting your arms in front is disrespectful and that behind your back or to the sides is considered respectable. At several points we also needed to remain silent to show respect.
On entering the mausoleum we had to all walk in a straight line in groups and remain silent, then we proceeded to check in all our belongings, all phones, wallets, cameras etc.. After this we began a 10-15 min ride on a moving travelator to get to the palace we could speak but only briefly, it was considered better to remain silent. On entering the building it was spectacular, very nice and elegant inside, probably the most expensive building I have seen on the whole tour. Korean's have to wait until they are 17 to be able to pay their respects.
We saw a statue of the leaders inside and had to bow to these. From then on we went along a very choreographed route in order to view the bodies. When we entered the room where Kim Il Sung was resting, it started to get quite cold and we had to go through a 'wind machine' which I assume cleaned us on any loose fabrics in order to maintain a sterile environment. We had to bow 3 times at his body, front and sides. After this we proceeded downstairs and repeated the process with Kim Jong Il's corpse. The rooms in which they were lying were very dark and and had a reddish tint, they were very respectful!
After viewing the bodies, we got to see many of the personal items of the leaders including various certificates and even their trains and boats! The train carriage was on display where Kim Jong Il died in 2011. Afterwards we went outside and took some photos outside of the building, before heading onto the next part of the tour....
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| Kumsusan Palace of the Sun |
On entering the mausoleum we had to all walk in a straight line in groups and remain silent, then we proceeded to check in all our belongings, all phones, wallets, cameras etc.. After this we began a 10-15 min ride on a moving travelator to get to the palace we could speak but only briefly, it was considered better to remain silent. On entering the building it was spectacular, very nice and elegant inside, probably the most expensive building I have seen on the whole tour. Korean's have to wait until they are 17 to be able to pay their respects.
We saw a statue of the leaders inside and had to bow to these. From then on we went along a very choreographed route in order to view the bodies. When we entered the room where Kim Il Sung was resting, it started to get quite cold and we had to go through a 'wind machine' which I assume cleaned us on any loose fabrics in order to maintain a sterile environment. We had to bow 3 times at his body, front and sides. After this we proceeded downstairs and repeated the process with Kim Jong Il's corpse. The rooms in which they were lying were very dark and and had a reddish tint, they were very respectful!
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| Press Photo |
After viewing the bodies, we got to see many of the personal items of the leaders including various certificates and even their trains and boats! The train carriage was on display where Kim Jong Il died in 2011. Afterwards we went outside and took some photos outside of the building, before heading onto the next part of the tour....
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