People of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will observe a three-minute silence on Thursday to mourn the death of top leader Kim Jong Il.

In this photo released by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s official KCNA news agency, the body of DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il lies in the bier at the Kumsusan Memorial in Pyongyang, DPRK, Dec. 20, 2011. Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), paid his respects Tuesday at the bier of his father and DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il, official KCNA news agency reported. [Xinhua/KCNA]

Gun volleys will be fired in Pyongyang and provincial seats, the official KCNA news agency reported Tuesday.

"All the DPRK people will stay still for three minutes and all locomotives and ships (those on voyage included) will blow whistles and those units with sirens will sound them all at once," said the KCNA.

Kim Jong Il was elected the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army on Dec. 24, 1991. He died from a "great mental and physical strain" during an inspection tour on Dec. 17.