The National Council of Churches in Korea(NCCK) has announced a joint prayer with the North's Korean Christian Federation ahead of Easter.
 
The groups said in their prayer on Monday that the division of the Korean Peninsula resulted in the wounds and sufferings of the Korean people for some 70 years. Instead of bringing an end to the division and conflict, they said the two Koreas are building an even higher wall.
 
They noted that the churches of the South and North long for the Korean people to remove the barrier and soar into the sky together. To realize this dream, they said the churches will build bridges of forgiveness and reconciliation in place of hatred and division.
 
The two groups have released joint prayers ahead of Easter every year since 1996. This year, the NCCK plans to read the prayer at its Easter service to be held at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul.