As the world body grapples to deal with the North Korean nuclear crisis, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon is set to be chosen by the United Nations General Assembly as the next secretary general, replacing Kofi Annan.
Sixty-two-year old Ban, who played a leading role in the now stalled six-party talks to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapon programme in return for economic incentives, will be the eight occupant to the post and will succeed Annan who retires after two five-year terms on December 31.
An experienced diplomat who had held assignments in New Delhi, New York and Washington, Ban is expected to be elected by acclamation and without vote at a meeting of the 192-member General Assembly scheduled for later on Friday to consider the recommendation of the 15-member Security Council nominating him to succeed Annan.
The assembly's vote will be a mere formality after the UNSC recommended Ban as a successor on Monday, an event overshadowed by North Korea's nuclear test.
He is the second Asian to head the world body after U Thant of Burma, who was Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971.
Soft-spoken Ban was selected by the Council also by acclamation and without vote after all candidates challenging him, including India's Shashi Tharoor, withdrew from the contest when it became clear that the South Korean had the support at least 14 of 15 members, including all five permanent members.
Ban, diplomats said, had impressed the US, China and Russia for his deftness at quiet negotiations as they worked with him at the six-party talks and he also fulfilled the condition Washington has set that the incumbent be outsider but with experience of the UN.
When Annan was elected, he had taken the oath immediately but Ban plans to delay the oath-taking till December to enable him to continue as the foreign minister to wind up his activities.
Ban, who is fluent in English and French, was born on June 13, 1944 when his country was still under occupation and had graduated in international relations from the Seoul National University and in public administration from the Harvard University.
His first diplomatic assignment outside the country was in New Delhi and he subsequently had assignments at the country's mission to the United Nations.
He did two outings at the South Korean Embassy in Washington.
Between the two assignments to Washington, Ban has served as director-general for American Affairs from 1990 to 1992.
While serving as his country's ambassador to Austria, he was elected as chairman of the preparatory commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1993.
In 2004, he became minister of foreign and trade minister of his country, a post he has held since.
Among the first crises he would have to deal with is the North Korean nuclear tangle, something he is very familiar with but as secretary general, he would also have to deal almost immediately with several other trouble spots, including the Middle East, Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq.
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