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In a mass outpouring of grief, North Korea mourned the death of former supreme leader Kim Jong-il, who died of a heart attack at the age of 69 in 2011.

His son and successor, Kim Jong-un, was today expected to visit the mausoleum where the embalmed body of his father lies in state.

Jong-un, who has ruled North Korea since 2011, has never missed the memorial ceremony – a sacred event in his annual calendar.

However, his ruling regime are yet to confirm Jong-un, the second child of Jong-il, was in attendance at the ceremony, raising questions over his whereabouts.

(Image: GETTY)

Eleven vice chairmen of the ruling Workers' Party visited a shrine to Jong-il at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyonggyang at midnight on Sunday, North Korean state-run media reported.

In a move that would break with years of tradition, there was no mention of Jong-un joining the officials at the solemn service.

Instead, “a basket of flowers” was laid on his behalf, according to state-run news agency KCNA.

In a statement, KCNA said: “Seen before the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on Mansu Hill here was a basket of flowers from respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.”

(Image: GETTY)

Jong-un tightened his grip on power last month by punishing two top military officials deemed to have expressed an “impure” attitude.

One of those officials, General Hwang Pyong-so, was reportedly executed by a firing squad on the orders of the brutal autocrat.

Jong-un has become renowned for his tyrannical style of leadership, regularly purging, dismissing or executing those deemed to have stepped out of line.

His killing of Hwang – his second most powerful military official – however, raises questions about the loyalty of the army’s high command.

(Image: GETTY)

Speaking to Daily Star Online, Michael Madden, founder and director of NK Leadership Watch, said Jong-un was actively planning for a “house arrest scenario”.

His absence at the memorial ceremony raises further questions about his leadership during a tumultuous time for his regime.

He has angered US President Donald Trump by testing ballistic missiles and a nuclear bomb this year.

Now, North Korea experts believe that the dictator may launch a nuke loaded missile to mark the death of his dad, Jong-il.

In a nationalistic article, Rodong Sinmun, the ruling party’s official paper, hailed Jong-il for “indicating the path of achieving the victory of socialism with his brilliant wisdom”.

“The powerful political and military muscle built and cemented by him throughout his whole life is the best national power and the strongest weapon of socialist Korea,” the newspaper said.