UNSC must act against N Korea: Ban

UNITED NATIONS: Sharply criticising the North Korean nuclear tests earlier this week, United Nations Secretary General-designate Ban Ki Moon has asked the world community to send out a “very strong, unified and clear” message to Pyongyang so that it would not have “any temptation to engage in further negative activities”.

The strong remarks from Ban, currently South Korea’s Foreign Minister, came at the first press conference he held within two hours of his election to the top United Nations post by the General Assembly for five years with acclamation and without vote amidst cheers on Friday.

Observing that there are daunting challenges to peace, development and human rights, he said the Iranian nuclear issue, humanitarian crisis in Darfur, the Middle East and conflicts in Africa call for a concerted approach. He expressed confidence that the Council would make North Korea aware of the “determined will of the international community” against it possessing or experimenting with nuclear weapons.

Addressing the General Assembly and later talking to reporters, the 62-year-old Harvard-educated diplomat pledged to work “diligently” to protect the most vulnerable members of the humanity and for peaceful resolution of threats to international peace and security.

The true measure of success for the UN, he said, is not how much “we promise, but how much we deliver for those who need us most.” Asserting that diplomacy is very important, Ban said even during the military conflicts, there needs to be room for dialogue. “This applies to all the regional conflicts, including the Korean question. I have always been saying that we need to take a two-pronged approach.”

Ban has also hinted that he plans to make major changes at the top level amongst the world body staff. “I’ll try to change the culture where the United Nations has been operating,” he told reporters when asked for his comments on the reported statement of American UN Ambassador John Bolton that he should fire the entire team of advisors.

“We need to bring new, fresh wind to the Secretariat,” and to bring management reforms to ensure that the staff shows professionalism and works with highest integrity, he said.

He called for a dialogue between religions and ideologies, saying that “we need to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for culture and history and ideology of others.” Referring to the Korean nuclear issue, Ban urged the Security Council to send out a “very strong, unified and clear” message to Pyongyang so that it would not have “any temptation to engage in any further negative activities which may aggravate the situation.”