DPRK holds national memorial service for late leader Kim Jong Il People attend the memorial service to mark the 100th day since the de...

DPRK holds national memorial service for late leader Kim Jong Il

People attend the memorial service to mark the 100th day since the death of Kim Jong Il, late top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on March 25, 2012. (Xinhua/Zhang Li)

PYONGYANG, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held here Sunday a national memorial service commemorating the 100th day of the death of their leader Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Un, the late leader's successor and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and supreme leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), attended the memorial service at the Kim Il Sung Square.

Premier Chon Yong Rim delivered a speech at the ceremony and praised the late leader, saying "He successfully solved the issue of succession to the leadership to accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche".

Chon encouraged the countrymen to accomplish "the cause of building a thriving socialist nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Un".

At noon local time (0300 GMT), sirens and whistles sounded across the country with national flags flying at half-mast. Citizens observed three minutes of silence in reverence towards the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where Kim Jong Il's body is on display.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Kim Jong Un and some senior party, state and military officials also paid a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on a train during a "field guidance tour" on Dec. 17, 2011.