A limousine carrying a portrait of late leader Kim Jong-il leads his funeral procession in Pyongyang in this still image taken from video December 28, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday bid final farewell to the nation's late leader Kim Jong-il.

A ceremony of bidding last farewell to Kim Jong-il began at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the official KCNA news agency reported.

TV footage also showed columns of troops stood in the snow on the plaza while a limousine carrying a huge portrait of the late leader moved slowly.

The late DPRK leader passed away from "great mental and physical strain" at 08:30 am Dec 17 (2330 GMT Friday), on a train during a field guidance tour, according to DPRK media.