U.N. Secretary General Ban ki-moon is urging an early resolution of the North Korean nuclear problem through the six-way nuclear talks.

He said that the multilateral denuclearization talks should be resumed as soon as possible to more seriously discuss accelerating denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Ban made the remarks in a news conference where he announced his decision to seek a second term as U.N. chief, which was held at the U.N. Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (Korean time).

The U.N. secretary general thanked China for taking the initiative to reduce the tension on the Korean Peninsula as the host of the six-party nuclear talks.

Regarding the possibility of a direct visit to North Korea, Ban said the North is welcoming his presence and he will choose the right time and conditions to travel to the communist country.