Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon says no timetable has been set for seeking a resolution to North Korea’s nuclear standoff.

Returning home from a trip to the U.S., Ban told reporters Friday that though Seoul is seeking a prompt settlement to Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, no deadline has been set for the matter.

His remarks came after he was asked to comment on U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s statement that time was running out for Pyongyang's return to the negotiating table.

Rice also said that she plans to tour Asia some time in the next six weeks to make "one last push" to bring North Korea back to the six-way nuclear talks.

Ban stressed that Rice has not set a definite six-week deadline, adding that she simply mentioned the period, as she is set to visit Asia in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam.