United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Han Seung-soo as his special envoy on climate change.

Han, a former foreign minister and United Nations General Assembly president, is currently chief of Pyeongchang City's Winter Olympics bid committee.

Speaking with Korean correspondents while visiting New York, Han urged Korea's active and constructive role on climate-related issues.

He stressed the importance of joint efforts by advanced and developing nations to address climate concerns, which he said directly relate to the future of humankind.

He is expected to meet with the secretary-general to discuss ways to spur multilateral dialogue on climate change.