Kim Jong Il's death: Koreans react

Reaction to the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il varied greatly, depending on what side of the DMZ one is on. In North Korea, emotional outpourings of mourning were photographed, while in South Korea, the reaction ranged from protests to guarded observation, and a increase in that country's military alertness.

Left: A woman and her son cry on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, as North Koreans gather after learning of the death of their leader.

Right: In downtown Seoul, a South Korean conservative protester holds a newspaper during a rally marking the death of Kim Jong Il.

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North Korea

North Koreans cry and scream in a display of mourning for their leader Kim Jong Il at the foot of a giant statue of his father, Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang, after Kim Jong Il's death was announced on Dec. 19, 2011. North Korea's news agency reported that he had died at 8:30 a.m. Saturday after having a heart attack on a train, adding that he had been treated for cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases for a long time. He was 69.

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North Korea

Hundreds of North Koreans gather to mourn the death of their leader Kim Jong Il in front of a giant statue of his father Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011. The secretive North Korean regime has been known to organize mass gatherings to mark important events; how citizens of the impoverished country reacted in rural areas is unclear as controls on the media are very tight, and access to ordinary citizens by western media is virtually impossible.

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North Korea

Women collapse in tears as North Koreans gather after learning death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim died on Dec. 17, North Korean state media announced Monday.

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North Korea

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, North Koreans bow in front of a bronze statue of the country's founder Kim Il Sung in central Pyongyang, North Korea, to mourn the death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011.

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North Korea

Women in military dress and civilian dress cry as North Koreans gather after learning death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim died on Dec. 17, North Korean state media announced Monday.

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North Korea

North Korean women cry after learning of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim died on Dec. 17, North Korean state media announced Monday.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

North Korea

A North Korean woman cries after learning death of the country's leader Kim Jong Il, on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

North Korea

North Koreans cry after learning of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

North Korea

North Korean women cry after learning of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il, on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

North Korea

North Koreans cry after learning of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

North Korea

North Koreans gather near a statue of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung after learning of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il, son of Kim Il Sung, on Dec. 19, 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean state media announced the dictator's death on Monday.

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South Korea

South Korean conservative protesters shout slogans during a rally marking the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, at downtown of Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011. North Korean state media announced his death Monday.

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South Korea

South Korean conservative protesters shout slogans during a rally marking the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at downtown of Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011. The sign reads "Freedom, Unification and Death of Kim Jong Il."

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South Korea

South Koreans read newspapers reporting the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011. Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic leader, died Saturday, according to North Korean state media. He was 69. The headline reads, "The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il."

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South Korea

South Korean soldiers watch a news report about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on a TV screen at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

South Korea

Passengers at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, watch a TV news report about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Dec. 19, 2011.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

South Korea

An employee sits next to television sets showing a news program about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, at the Yongsan Electronic shop Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011.

Complete coverage: The death of North Korea's Kim Jong Il

South Korea

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, second from right, presides over an emergency meeting of the National Security Council over North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death at the presidential house in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011.

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South Korea

South Korean army soldiers run along the barbed-wire fence near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011. Following North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il's death, South Korea put its military and civil defense personnel on high alert.

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South Korea

South Korean army soldiers man a guard post in the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea in Goseong, South Korea, on Dec. 19, 2011, after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was reported.

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