Ban offers to resign as S.Korean FM

Ban Ki-Moon, the elected United Nations secretary-general, offered to resign as South Korea's foreign minister on Thursday during a meeting with President Roh Moo-Hyun, South Korea's Presidential Office said.

"Ban paid a courtesy call on President Roh and expressed his desire to resign as foreign minister to concentrate on his new UN post," said Yoon Tae-young, the spokesman for the Presidential Office.

"Ban briefed the president on his plan to return to New York on Nov. 15 to prepare for his inauguration as the UN chief on Jan. 1, " Yoon added.

Roh asked Ban to carry out his new mission at the United Nations in a creative and fair manner and produce outstanding achievements, Yoon told reporters.

Ban returned to Seoul on Thursday morning for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ban's resignation will be discussed later in a parliamentary confirmation hearing.

There is still no nomination for Ban's successor.

Source: Xinhua