UN chief backs direct US-DPRK nuclear talks

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday he supports the DPRK's willingness to engage in one-on-one talks with the United States to resolve the dispute over eliminating its nuclear weapons program.

The United States has said it is willing to hold direct talks with Pyongyang - but only on the sidelines of six-party nuclear disarmament talks that include the US, the DPRK, the ROK, China, Japan and Russia. The DPRK has said it won't return to the stalled six-nation talks and suggested a new dialogue with President Barack Obama's administration.

Ban, a former ROK foreign minister, said he believes that Six-Party Talks are "a good way" to address the nuclear standoff with the DPRK.