Attending them were office-bearers of the Central Committee and provincial, city and county committees of the Buddhist Federation of Korea, monks of temples and believers.

A ritual was made to be followed by speeches. A prayer for national reunification was read out.

They said that the Koreans have turned out to a general drive to glorify 2012 as a year of shining victory, in which the heyday for prosperity is unfolding, true to the instructions of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

They called on all the Buddhists at home and abroad to maintain the stand of achieving national independence and giving priority to the nation and bring about national reconciliation and unity as required by the June 15 era of reunification under the uplifted banner of "Let all the compatriots open the gates of national reunification full of fresh confidence!"

The U.S. and the south Korean authorities made reckless provocations against the north despite its consistent efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula, pushing the situation to the worst war phase.

They called on all the Buddhists to take an active part in the practical actions to foil the war moves of warmongers at home and abroad. They also called for working hard for independent reunification of the country, peace and national prosperity true to the Buddhist canon on reconciliation, harmony, peace and equality, and prayed for the earlier realization of paradise in which the idea of getting rid of pain and attaining happiness has come true.