Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- A meeting of north-south religionists for national reconciliation, unity and peaceful reunification took place in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Present at the meeting were Jang Jae On, chairman of the Religious Believers Council of Korea; Kang Yong Sop, chairman of the Central Committee of the Christian Federation of Korea; Sim Sang Jin, chairman of the Central Committee of the Buddhist Federation of Korea; Kang Chol Won, vice-chairman of the Central Guidance Committee of the Chondoist Association of Korea; and members of religious organizations.

Also attending it were members of the delegation of south Korea's 7 religious orders led by Kim Hui Jung, representative chairman of the South Korean Religionists Council for Peace and head of the Kwangju Archdiocese of the Catholic Church.

Speakers at the meeting spoke of the pleasure of representatives of different religious organizations in the north and the south at sitting together and having their meeting for national reconciliation and unity and peaceful reunification.

They noted the meeting would mark a meaningful occasion in demonstrating internally and externally the strong will of the believers in the north and the south to tide over difficulties in the way of national reunification, promote national concord and bring about a new phase of peace and independent reunification.

They called upon believers in the north and the south to advance, holding higher the banner of "By the Korean nation itself" convinced that the implementation of the June 15 joint declaration leads to the reunification and peace of the country.

A joint statement of the believers in the north and the south for national reconciliation, unity and peaceful reunification was made public at the meeting.

The statement said that they would make positive efforts to defuse antagonism and distrust, tension and confrontation between compatriots, remove the danger of war and ensure durable peace.

It stressed the need to solve all the problems between the north and the south in conformity with the will and interests common to the nation.

It went on:

The Religious Believers Council of Korea in the north and the south Korean Religionists Council for Peace will regularly hold meetings to boost dialogue and cooperation between themselves and actively conduct a movement to achieve the unity of believers and reunification.

The statement ardently called upon all the Koreans in the north and the south and abroad to join as one in the drive for national reconciliation, unity, peace and reunification.