Mass boycott leads to awkward silence at UN Kim tribute

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The United States, Japan, South Korea and most leading European countries have boycotted a minute's silence at the United Nations General Assembly for North Korea's late leader, Kim Jong-il.

Australia's representative was in the General Assembly during the tribute.

The tribute, demanded by North Korea, was the highest-profile international move yet sought by the government in Pyongyang in its quest for global recognition for the hardline leader, who died last Saturday at the age of 69.

The awkward silence was a 'protocol' move following a North Korean request, according to the UN General Assembly president, Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser.

But many diplomats from countries that took part in the protest called the tribute inappropriate. They said the Security Council turned down North Korea's demand for a gesture to Mr. Kim.

North Korea's UN ambassador, Sin Son Ho, and another diplomat from the North Korean mission stood with their heads bowed during the silence. 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," Mr Nasser said at the start of the assembly session.

He listed Mr. 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 Pyongyang's ambassador ''to convey condolences to the government and the people' of North Korea.

Mr. Nasser then asked all envoys 'to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the late leader'.

Although North Korea has been whipped into mass grief, many foreign nations have avoided offering official condolences.

"This is a man who is responsible for probably tens of thousands of deaths," said one European diplomat, explaining the boycott.

"It is an embarrassment that we will have to put up with," an Asian diplomat said. All diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of relations with Pyongyang.

The only official book of condolences for Kim Jong-il in North America is at the country's UN mission in New York, where a wall of white chrysanthemums is around his portrait.

Everyone who goes to sign the book is filmed by a North Korean diplomat. Several diplomats and journalists from countries which do not have relations with the North refused to go for fear the images would be used for propaganda purposes.

The UN deputy secretary general, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, signed the book for the 'UN system', a UN spokesman said.

The US, Japan, South Korea and most European nations have not signed. Most Asian nations that have ties with Pyongyang have sent ambassadors or deputy ambassadors to sign it.