The statement said:

First of all, it is necessary to remove the danger of war, defuse tension and ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula in order to glorify this year as a landmark in opening up a broad avenue to the independent reunification of Korea.

All the Buddhists in the north and the south, who seek after mercy, equality and peace, should go into action in Dharma-minded concord to resolutely check the war moves escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula and confrontation with the fellow countrymen.

The U.S. and south Korean authorities should immediately give up their war moves which will bring only nuclear disaster upon the Korean nation and pose a threat to peace and security of the peninsula.

The north and the south should never allow outsiders' moves of sowing discord among the Korean nation but achieve great unity and cohesion, irrespective of differences in ideology, social system and religious belief.

The Buddhists wishing cohesion and unity should become believers and clerics supporting the national independence and unity under the slogan "Let the whole nation join efforts to open up a broad avenue to independent reunification in this year of the 70th anniversary of national liberation!" set forth in the New Year address to make distinguished contributions to opening up a broad avenue to the independent reunification.

The Buddhists and other people of all social strata in south Korea should turn out in the action to defend and implement the north-south joint declaration under the uplifted banner of By Our Nation Itself.

We call upon all the Buddhists in the north, the south and abroad, who value reconciliation and unity of the nation and equality and peace, to take the lead in the struggle for glorifying this year as a landmark in opening up a broad avenue to the independent reunification in support of the patriotic appeal made in the New Year address.