The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's residents in Japan gather during a memorial for the late leader Kim Jong-il in Tokyo.[Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - About 10,000 Korean residents in Japan attended a memorial in Tokyo Thursday to mourn the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s late leader Kim Jong-il, organizers said.

The event, organized by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, also known as Chongryon, was carried out in a school hall affiliated with the organization.

Many attendees arrived at the memorial hall before 11 am, the official start of the service, the organization said. After observing a minute's silence, the attendees took turns to place red carnations on a stand in the hall.

The organization's local chapters also held similar memorial services in various parts of Japan.

On Wednesday, the DPRK held a state funeral for the demised leader, who died from "great mental and physical strain" on a train during a field guidance tour.