Church prepares for thousands of mourners for Rev. Moon; NKorean leader expresses condolences

Gapyeong, South Korea - Unification Church officials say they are expecting tens of thousands of mourners for the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at their sprawling campus northeast of Seoul.

The church will officially welcome mourners Thursday for the self-proclaimed messiah at a massive sports and cultural center in Gapyeong County.

Workers Wednesday were busy building a huge stage and installing red carpets and hundreds of flowers.

Moon died Monday at age 92. His funeral is Sept. 15.

North Korean state media said Wednesday that leader Kim Jong Un has offered condolences to the Unification Church founder’s family.

Moon met with Kim Jong Un’s grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, during a 1991 visit to the North.

North Korea made no mention of whether it will send mourners to Moon’s funeral.