For Kim Jong-Il: UN to hold minute of silence

UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly is to hold a minute of silence on Thursday for North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong-Il, the assembly president announced, insisting it was a “protocol” move. The North Korean mission to the United Nations requested the gesture, UN General Assembly president Nassir Abdulaziz al Nasser told reporters. Nasser said there would be one minute’s silence at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) “according to the procedure of the General Assembly, and based on precedent and protocol.” The head of the 193-nation body said he would make comments, but there would be no speeches.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2011.