U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday that once its nuclear issue has been resolved, North Korea may be able to receive not only humanitarian aid from the United Nations, but also long-term assistance to rebuild the country's tattered economy.

In a meeting with South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Park Kwan-yong at the U.N. headquarters, Annan also stressed that a format acceptable to both Washington and Pyongyang should be worked out to settle the dispute peacefully.

Park responded by saying he hopes the U.N. secretary general will play a major role in helping end the dispute peacefully.

Noting that Seoul is the 10th largest contributor to the United Nations, Park suggested that more Koreans should be employed at the U.N. Secretariat.

Park also said he expects the United Nations to play an active role in providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people and in reconstructing the war-torn country. He also pledged Korea's active participation in those efforts.