Ban Ki Moon photographed in his official residence in Seoul Oct. 5, 2006
How do you feel about North Korea's recent nuclear pledge? Do you think it will affect your candidacy or your ability as Secretary General to deal with Pyongyang?
Officially and personally, I am very troubled by North Korea's announcement that they would go ahead with a nuclear test. I hope this situation will not cause any problems to my current candidacy and I hope that member states of the United Nations will understand the situation. There are two possibilities: [that the tests are] a negotiating ploy, or a real attempt at nuclear testing. We are taking the necessary measures on both possibilities. I've already discussed this matter with [U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and in two hours I'm going to have a telephone discussion with the Japanese Foreign Minister. North Korea must stop these kinds of negative announcements, and they should stop if they have any plans [to actually conduct a nuclear test]. They have made a firm commitment to a denuclearization of the Korean peninsula contained in the joint statement adopted in September last year. This is a serous breach of that commitment, to the whole Korean nation — both North and South— and the whole international community. We will take necessary diplomatic measures, as much as we can.
As a South Korean Secretary General, will it be more difficult for you to deal with North Korea, or for other countries to trust your impartiality and ability to deal with North Korea?
As I've gained a deeper experience and understanding into this complex issue, I'll be in a much better position as secretary general than as South Korean Foreign Minister to deal with inter-Korean relations. Having known all the history and background and having known people in both the South and North, I can do a much better job [on the North Korean issue] than any other person. Even though I am just a candidate at this time, should I be elected I'll take very seriously what kind of role I can play to deal with this matter.
How will you respond as South Korea's Foreign Minister to Pyongyang's latest provocation?
We've already made strong statements that North Korea should stop these provocative activities and they should abide by Security Council resolution 1695. This is a total breach of the commitment they made in the joint declaration for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula adopted in 1992, a declaration I helped negotiate. This is a total breach of that commitment — a commitment to the whole nation and the whole international community. Should they go ahead, despite our appeals, North Korea should be entirely responsible for all consequences coming from their nuclear test.
Is a nuclear test likely?
I'm not sure. We are taking it very seriously.
How do you respond to criticism that under your watch as foreign minister, South Korea's relations with Japan, the U.S., North Korea and China have all worsened?