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Ban: Rice should head talks with N. Korea
By UPI Staff
United Press International
October 16, 2006

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General designate of the United Nations, said that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should lead talks with North Korea.

Speaking with Bill Weir on Sunday's "Good Morning America Weekend Edition," Ban said that Rice should lead diplomatic talks with the Asian country in the wake of Saturday's unanimous U.N. resolution imposing international sanctions because of North Korea's nuclear program.

"If possible, it would be a good opportunity," said South Korea's current minister of foreign affairs and trade. "The United States has expressed on many occasions that they will be prepared to talk with North Korea if and when they return to six-party talks. ... I hope North Korea will take this opportunity to discuss all their concerns."

The resolution passed by the Security Council threatened North Korea with economic sanctions if the country continues its controversial nuclear weapons program.

Ban added that any diplomatic talks initiated by Rice or other U.S. officials would likely begin with North Korea's Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Kim Jong Il.

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