New UN chief to resolve nuke issue

SEOUL – South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, the incoming UN chief, said Tuesday he would play an active part in finding a peaceful settlement to the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons test.

In close consultation with member states, “I intend to seek an active role for the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue,” he said in a speech. Ban has said he will appoint a special UN envoy on North Korea when he takes over.The communist state staged its test on October 9, overshadowing the UN Security Council’s vote that day for Ban as next secretary-general.Ban said Seoul is committed to faithfully implementing the UN resolution imposing sanctions on the North.”We stand firmly behind the Security Council’s strong message to North Korea and we are reviewing our policies to bring them closer in line with Resolution 1718.”The South Korean government’s “sunshine” policy of engagement with its neighbour – including two joint projects that have earned the North almost a billion dollars since 1998 – have come in for increasing criticism since the test.Seoul says the projects will not be scrapped but may be revised.Nampa-AFPBan has said he will appoint a special UN envoy on North Korea when he takes over.The communist state staged its test on October 9, overshadowing the UN Security Council’s vote that day for Ban as next secretary-general.Ban said Seoul is committed to faithfully implementing the UN resolution imposing sanctions on the North.”We stand firmly behind the Security Council’s strong message to North Korea and we are reviewing our policies to bring them closer in line with Resolution 1718.”The South Korean government’s “sunshine” policy of engagement with its neighbour – including two joint projects that have earned the North almost a billion dollars since 1998 – have come in for increasing criticism since the test.Seoul says the projects will not be scrapped but may be revised.Nampa-AFP