North Korea hails Kim Jong-un as leader

Mr Kim took centre stage at a memorial service in Pyongyang's main square a day after his father's funeral.

Kim Yong-nam, formally the number two leader, told a million-strong crowd their sorrow would be turned into strength "1,000 times greater under the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-un".

State TV showed Kim Jong-un surrounded by top government and army officials.

The memorial event appeared to be the Kim dynasty's unofficial handover of power, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in neighbouring South Korea.

A three-minute silence was also held, after which trains and ships throughout the country sounded their horns.

Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on 17 December, aged 69, state media said. He had ruled North Korea since the death of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994.

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