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Summary The US, Japan and European nations boycotted a minute of silence at the UN General Assembly.
The United States, Japan, South Korea and leading European nations on Thursday boycotted a minute of silence at the UN General Assembly demanded by North Korea for its late leader Kim Jong-Il.The UN tribute was the highest profile international move sought yet by the Norths 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 UN General Assembly president Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser.Many diplomats from countries which took part in the protest called the tribute inappropriate. They said the UN Security Council turned down North Koreas demand for a gesture to the late strongman.North Koreas UN 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 Assemblys 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 Kims official titles -- head of the ruling Workers Party, head of the military commission and supreme commander of the Norths military -- before calling on the Norths 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 Kims 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.
