UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- The United States, Japan, South Korea and leading European nations on Thursday boycotted a minute of silence at the U.N. General Assembly demanded by North Korea for its late leader Kim Jong-il.
The U.N. tribute was the highest profile international move sought yet by the North‘s government as it seeks global recognition for the hardline leader who died on Saturday at the age of 69.
The awkward silence was a “protocol” move following a North Korean request, according to U.N. General Assembly president Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser.
Many diplomats from countries which took part in the protest called the tribute “inappropriate.” They said the U.N. Security Council turned down North Korea’s demand for a gesture to the late strongman.
North Korea‘s U.N. ambassador Sin Son-ho and another diplomat from the North Korean mission stood with their heads bowed during the silence but barely a third of the General Assembly’s 193 members were present.
Britain, France, Germany and most members of the 27-nation European Union joined the protest.
“It is my sad duty to pay tribute to the memory of the late Kim Jong-il,” said Nasser at the start of the assembly session.
He listed Kim‘s official titles -- head of the ruling Workers Party, head of the military commission and supreme commander of the North’s military -- before calling on the North‘s ambassador “to convey condolences to the government and the people” of North Korea.
Nasser called on all envoys “to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the late leader.”
While Kim’s isolated country has been whipped into mass grief, many foreign nations have sought to avoid officially offering condolences.
“This is a man who is responsible for probably tens of thousands of deaths.
He is not a model for the UN,” said one European diplomat, explaining the boycott.
“It is an embarrassment that we will have to put up with,” commented on Asian diplomat. All diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of relations with North Korea.
The only official book of condolences for Kim in North America is at the country‘s U.N. mission in New York.
A huge wall of white chrysanthemums has been set up around a portrait of the so-called “Dear Leader”.
Every person who goes to sign the book is filmed by a North Korean diplomat. Some diplomats and journalists from nations which do not have relations with the North said they would not go because they feared the images would be used for propaganda purposes.
U.N. Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro signed the book for the “U.N. system,” said U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky.
The United States, Japan, South Korea and most European nations have not signed the book. Most Asian nations which do have relations with Pyongyang have sent their ambassador or deputy ambassador to sign however.
