UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he shares deep concern with the South Korean government over the repatriation of North Korean escapees.

Ban made the remark when he held a closed-door luncheon with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan at a restaurant near UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.

The UN chief apparently urged all related countries to work together and exert their best efforts to seek a resolution to the repatriation issue.

Ban underlined that it is most important to prioritize international standards and humanitarian consideration regarding escapees’ safety.

In response, Foreign Minister Kim said he shared concerns over humanitarian matters, and the South will continue to work with related countries regarding repatriation.