S. Korean minister appointed U.N. secretary-general

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon was appointed Friday to lead the United Nations for five years, starting next year.

The 192-member General Assembly of the U.N. decided Ban's appointment as secretary-general by acclamation, clearing the way for the 62-year-old veteran diplomat to manage the world body. Ban is allowed to seek another five-year term.

The assembly's decision gave him more than two months to prepare for his new job, a longer transition period than previous secretary-generals enjoyed. Speaking at his first press conference since the appointment, he urged the Security Council to pass a strong resolution on North Korea over its recent nuclear test.

"I hope the Security Council will adopt a clear and strong resolution" on the North, Ban said.

He called North Korea's proclaimed test on Monday "a stark reminder" of the daunting challenges facing the international community.

After several days of a tug-of-war on the level of punishment against Pyongyang, the 15-member council agreed Friday to vote this weekend on a compromise draft resolution authorizing far-reaching, non-military sanctions on the communist state, according to envoys here.

They added that the voting is expected to take place on Saturday morning.

Delivering an acceptance speech at the General Assembly earlier in the day, Ban stressed the need for promoting the inter-state system.

"The U.N.'s core mission in the previous century was to keep countries from fighting each other," he said. "In the new century, the defining mandate is to strengthen the inter-state system so that humanity may be better served amidst new challenges." He cited such challenges as "expanding peace operations, the threats posed by terrorism, WMD proliferation, HIV/AIDS and other pandemics, environmental degradation, and the imperatives of human rights."

Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan hailed Ban as "a man with a truly global mind" and "exceptional qualifications."

"I am delighted that your election turned out this way -- early and orderly," Annan said in his speech. "I think everyone here recognizes the depth of your experience, the breadth of your connections, and your ability to operate effectively at the highest levels." Ban will immediately discuss with Annan how to form a transition team at the U.N., Ban's aides said.

New York, Oct. 13 (Yonhap News)