Leaders of South Korea’s seven largest religious groups have met with North Korea’s parliamentary leader, Kim Yong-nam, in Pyongyang.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said the leaders of the Korean Conference of Religion for Peace met with Kim on Thursday and held talks amid what the news agency described as an atmosphere filled with brotherly love. However, the report did not elaborate on what the religious leaders and Kim talked about.

Earlier on Thursday, the South Korean group held a prayer service and meeting with the North’s Korean Conference of Religion to promote reconciliation, unity and peaceful reunification of the two Koreas. After the service, the two sides issued a joint statement stating they plan to hold regular meetings to boost dialogue and cooperation and will also actively take part in activities promoting the unification of the two Koreas.

Ahead of visiting the North on Wednesday, the South Korean religious leaders had expressed hope to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during their stay in the communist state.