Seoul is asking Libya to persuade North Korea to follow in Tripoli's footsteps and give up its nuclear arms ambitions.

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon made the request during a meeting with Libya's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mohammed Sayala, on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Shin Bong-kil quoted Ban as saying that the international community highly regards Libya's abandonment of its nuclear weapons development program, and that the Libyan example would serve as a good lesson for North Korea's leadership.

Libya renounced its nuclear ambitions in December in exchange for political and economic rewards from the international community.

The United States lifted most of its sanctions against the northern African country in April and established formal diplomatic relations with Tripoli last month.

Washington has called on North Korea to follow Libya's example and dismantle its own nuclear programs.

The North, on its part, says such a demand is unacceptable.