U.N. assembly's "minute" of silence for Kim Jong-il only lasted 25 seconds

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/U.N._assembly_holds_minute_of_silence_for_Kim_Jong-il.html?cid=31822508

Dec 22, 2011 - 20:35

U.N. assembly holds "minute" of silence for Kim Jong-il

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. General Assembly granted a request from North Korea and held a few moments of silence on Thursday for Kim Jong-il, the country's former leader who died on Saturday, though Western delegations boycotted it.

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, president of the 193-nation assembly, called for a "minute of silence" before the start of a routine meeting at 3:00 p.m. EST (8 p.m.British time) in the half-empty U.N. General Assembly hall.

"It is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the late Kim Jong-il, Secretary-General of the Workers Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, who passed away on Saturday, December 17," he said.

The minute of silence lasted for 25 seconds before Nasser proceeded with the scheduled meeting. The United States, European Union member states and Japan were among the countries that boycotted the tribute to Kim Jong-il.

[Turbineguy]

1. Like Victor Borge's version of the Minute Waltz, dedicated to his Sister.

He stops halfway through, "She's only my half-sister!"

[brewens]

2. At least they didn't bust out singing "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead"! n/t

[Matariki]

3. "It is my sad duty to pay tribute"

That is a sad duty indeed.