UN Chief Willing to Go to North Korea to Foster Dialogue

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file photo)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is willing to go to North
Korea if it would help foster dialogue on Pyongyang's nuclear program.
The U.N. chief also said he has made overtures to the authorities in
the North on behalf of two imprisoned American journalists.  

Mr.
Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, said he is concerned about
the situation on the Korean peninsula, particularly since international
talks about Pyongyang's nuclear program have broken down.

"I am
also concerned that all the doors for dialogue have been shut by the
DPRK authorities. At this time, however, while I believe that the Six
Party Talks still can provide a good way for a solution through
dialogue, if necessary, then there should be some other forms of
dialogue," he said.

Mr. Ban told reporters at his monthly news
conference Wednesday that he welcomed North Korea's recent offer to
hold bilateral talks with the United States, saying dialogue is vital
in any format and is the only way to resolve the nuclear issue.

But
the United States said Monday any two-way talks could only be part of
the Six Party Talks that include China, Japan, Russia and South Korea.

The U.N. chief said he is ready to use his good offices to help the process, and did not rule out a visit to North Korea.

"The
situation in the Korean peninsula is very serious, and whatever I can
do as secretary-general I am willing to do - including my own visit to
Pyongyang at this time. However, I need to find out when would be an
appropriate timing for me to visit," he said.

Asked if the
United Nations has played any role in trying to free two American
journalists imprisoned in Pyongyang, Mr. Ban said he has personally
tried to help win their release.

"I have taken my own
initiative, even though I am not able to disclose it," he said. "On two
occasions I have conveyed my strong wish and appeal even, to DPRK
authorities that they should look at this issue and release them, even
on humanitarian grounds. That is what I have been doing now."

Mr. Ban said he could not disclose any more details about his efforts.

The two female reporters were found guilty of entering the country illegally in March and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.