U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ON TUESDAY CALLED FOR PROMPT RESUMPTION OF STALLED SIX-PARTY TALKS ON NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAMS, WHILE URGING SOUTH KOREA TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. DURING A MEETING WITH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT ROH MOO-HYUN IN SEOUL, ANNAN «SHOWED SUPPORT FOR THE SIX-PARTY TALKS AIMED AT RESOLVING THE NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR ISSUE AND EXPRESSED HOPE THEY WILL RESUME SOON,» ROH'S OFFICE SAID IN A STATEMENT. ANNAN ALSO EXPRESSED HOPE FOR STRONGER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND SOUTH KOREA. «THIS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP HAS SERVED US WELL,» ANNAN SAID AT A LUNCHEON AFTER MEETING ROH. «I HOPE AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE WE ARE GOING TO DEEPEN EVEN FURTHER OUR RELATIONSHIP. WE EXPECT YOU TO PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.» ANNAN'S VISIT COMES AS THE SOUTH'S FOREIGN MINISTER BAN KI-MOON SEEKS TO REPLACE HIM AS THE HEAD OF UNITED NATIONS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. ANNAN'S SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM ENDS ON DEC. 31.
