Diana's death taught the North Koreans to publicly mourn

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's Dear Leader, died of a heart attack on Saturday at the age of 69 or possibly 70 - as with so much about him his date of birth is unclear.

North Koreans have taken to the streets in an outpouring of grief that frankly looks ridiculous to cynical Westerners. Perhaps most of it is orchestrated by the government to show the world how much the people will miss the Dear Leader.

As I watched the footage on North Korean television I was transported back to August and September 1997 when this country was host to a similar situation - people crying over the death of someone they only knew from the television or newspapers.

In the days following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales you not only grieved but you had to be seen to grieve and if you didn't you ran the risk of having your head kicked in, as did some poor sod who decided to wash his car on the morning of her funeral.

Laugh all you want at the public mourning in North Korea and then watch the footage of Diana's funeral and tell me what is different.