hankyoreh

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was formally nominated Monday to lead the United Nations.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously recommended the 62-year-old veteran diplomat as the successor to Kofi Annan, who is to retire at the end of this year.

"The Security Council has just recommended to the General Assembly that Mr. Ban Ki-mon be appointed secretary general of the United Nations," Japan's U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima was quoted by AP as telling reporters at the United Nations.

In a press conference in Seoul, the South Korean minister said he appreciated the Security Council for supporting and entrusting him with the important task, but said he also felt burdened due to North Korea's nuclear threats.

"Due to North Korea's announcement that it conducted a nuclear test, I feel heavy hearted at a moment when I should be happy," Ban told the nationally televised news conference.

He said he would do his utmost as the next secretary general of the United Nations to help resolve the North Korean nuclear dispute.

The council's choice of the mild-mannered official was widely expected, as he won a series of straw polls on a pool of candidates for the post.

In the final straw poll last week, Ban was the only candidate to escape a veto from the five permanent members of the council.

Ban's nomination is subject to endorsement by the 192-nation General Assembly, which is expected to meet next week, but tradition suggests there will be no debate or protest.

The assembly has traditionally approved the council's decision for the U.N. secretary general by acclamation.

If Ban receives the assembly's approval, he will become the first South Korean to take the much-coveted post and the second Asian following U Thant of Burma, who served from 1961-1971.
New York/Seoul, Oct. 9 (Yonhap News)