UN leader calls for 'permanent peace' with NKorea

New York, May 16: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for the world to search for a permanent peace on the Korean peninsula even though the North's nuclear programme was the most pressing current challenge.

''Beyond a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue with North Korea, we should aim to establish a peace mechanism, through transition from armistice to a permanent peace regimen,'' Ban told the Korea Society yesterday, where he was the keynote speaker at a black tie dinner.

A former South Korean foreign minister, Ban said it was time to set aside ''divisions of the Cold War and focus on the future'' including the ''Korean people's dream of a reunified peninsula.'' ''A peaceful and nuclear-free peninsula will serve as a bridge connecting the whole region with free trade and movement of people,'' he said.

But at the moment, Ban said the nuclear issue remained the most pressing challenge on the Korean peninsula.

''As someone who has put his heart and soul into resolving this issue through diplomacy, I am heartened to see the multilateral negotiating process back on track,'' he said.

A six-party agreement was negotiated in February by North and South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, and the United States, represented by Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who was in the audience.

Congratulating Hill, Ban said that while everyone wanted the talks to move at a faster pace ''we know that what is needed is considerable patience, perseverance and political will.'' Under the terms of the February deal, North Korea had until mid-April to shut down its nuclear facilities and admit international inspectors. In exchange, Pyongyang has been promised 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil.

North Korea missed the April deadline, insisting it would not move until it received 25 million dollars in assets once frozen at a Macao bank.

Washington said weeks ago that the money, frozen at its request due to suspected links to illicit activity by Pyongyang, had been released and was awaiting collection.

Ban said that while he offered his services as a ''friend and collaborator'' in the negotiations, it was also important to help those in need in North Korea.

''I am determined, through dialogue and engagement with (North Korea) and other countries, to mobilize international support for both humanitarian and longer-term development needs...'' Ban said.

Reuters>