UN nominates new secretary-general

THE UN Security Council officially nominated South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon yesterday as the next secretary-general, and he said he would work to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.

Under the UN Charter, the 15-member security council makes a recommendation for the next secretary-general to the 192-member general assembly, which must give final approval.

“The security council has just recommended to the general assembly that Mr Ban Ki-moon be appointed secretary-general of the United Nations” on January 1 when secretary-general Kofi Annan’s second five-year term expires, Japanese UN ambassador Kenzo Oshima told reporters after the council voted at a private meeting.