South Korean Official Willing to Visit North Korea as UN Chief

韩官员如任联合国秘书长愿访北韩

South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon says, if he becomes the next U.N. secretary-general, he will consider visiting North Korea to help resolve the standoff over its nuclear program. 

Ban is expected to be confirmed as the next U.N. chief next week. In an interview published by the "Financial Times" Friday, Ban said current Secretary- General Kofi Annan has made many contributions, but has not been able to visit North Korea during the past 10 years. Ban said he believes he is in a better position to handle the nuclear dispute, because he has a deeper understanding of the inter-Korean relationship.

Ban published comments come three days after Pyongyang announced it plans to test a nuclear weapon at an unspecified time in the future. The U.N. Security Council is expected to approve a statement today urging North Korea to cancel any planned nuclear weapons test.

韩国外交通商部长官潘基文说，如果他成为联合国下届秘书长，会考虑出访北韩，帮助解决北韩核项目陷入的僵局。

潘基文预计下星期被确定为下一届联合国秘书长。伦敦金融时报星期五发表的一篇采访引述潘基文的话说，现任联合国秘书长安南做出了很多贡献，但是在十年任期内一直没有访问北韩。潘基文说，他认为自己更适合处理北韩核争端，因为他对朝鲜半岛南北双方的关系更为了解。 

潘基文发表上述评论的三天前，平壤宣布计划在未来没有具体说明的时候试验核武器。联合国安理会预计星期五通过一份声明，敦促北韩取消核武器试验的计划。