Kim Jong Il Death

Feb. 16 is always a glorious day on the North Korean calendar. Known as the "Day of the Shining Star," it marks the anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il, the country's second-generation leader.

North Korea says late leader Kim Jong Il's body will be permanently laid in state in a memorial palace in the capital. Kim's body will be displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of his father - North Korea founder Kim Il Sung - has been lying since 1995. He died in 1994.

North Korea vowed Sunday to stage an all-out drive for prosperity as it unites behind new leader Kim Jong Un, ushering in 2012 with promises to resolve food shortages, bolster its military and defend Kim Jong Il's young son "unto death."

North Korea today warned rival South Korea and the rest of the world not to expect any change after Kim Jong Il's death, sending a tough message as Kim's young son strengthened his position as supreme leader.

North Korea has invited Japanese woman magician Tenko Hikita to attend the planned December 28 funeral for its leader Kim Jong Il who died last weekend, her manager claimed today. Ms Hikita, who has performed several magic shows in North Korea, received the invitation over the phone and via e-mail from one of Kim's relatives.

Asian markets also shrugged off news that European Union finance ministers raised only three-quarters of the euro200 billion ($261 billion).

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says North Korea has conducted a short-range missile test on the day the country announced the death of leader Kim Jong Il.

Benchmark oil was down 56 cents at $92.97 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Feb. 16 is always a glorious day on the North Korean calendar. Known as the "Day of the Shining Star," it marks the anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong Il, the country's second-generation leader.

North Korea says late leader Kim Jong Il's body will be permanently laid in state in a memorial palace in the capital. Kim's body will be displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of his father - North Korea founder Kim Il Sung - has been lying since 1995. He died in 1994.

North Korea vowed Sunday to stage an all-out drive for prosperity as it unites behind new leader Kim Jong Un, ushering in 2012 with promises to resolve food shortages, bolster its military and defend Kim Jong Il's young son "unto death."

North Korea today warned rival South Korea and the rest of the world not to expect any change after Kim Jong Il's death, sending a tough message as Kim's young son strengthened his position as supreme leader.

North Korea has invited Japanese woman magician Tenko Hikita to attend the planned December 28 funeral for its leader Kim Jong Il who died last weekend, her manager claimed today. Ms Hikita, who has performed several magic shows in North Korea, received the invitation over the phone and via e-mail from one of Kim's relatives.

Asian markets also shrugged off news that European Union finance ministers raised only three-quarters of the euro200 billion ($261 billion).

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says North Korea has conducted a short-range missile test on the day the country announced the death of leader Kim Jong Il.

Benchmark oil was down 56 cents at $92.97 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.