Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon has vowed to exert full efforts to prevent Seoul's past secret nuclear activities from being referred to the U.N. Security Council.

Ban made the remarks Wednesday at a full session of the National Assembly's Committee on Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Ban added that he would seek cooperation from the United States and other allies when he attends the U.N. General Assembly next week in New York so that the issue of past, apparently unauthorized experiments by South Korean scientists will be resolved in an objective manner.

On the outlook for the next round of six-way nuclear talks, Ban said it appeared it would be difficult to open the discussions at the end of this month as previously agreed. However, he was quick to add that Seoul would exert full diplomatic efforts for the prompt resumption of the six-party discussions.

Ban is scheduled to fly to New York on Wednesday for a five-day visit during which he will stress to U.N. member states that Seoul will maintain its policy of non-nuclear proliferation and transparency in its atomic programs.

Ban also plans to meet U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and delegates from other countries to discuss possible reforms to the United Nations.

Following his U.S. trip, Ban will cross the border to Canada next Sunday for an official three-day visit.