Geneva, April 22 (NNN-KUNA) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon urged North Korea to take the necessary measures as agreed upon by the six party talks concerning its nuclear capabilities. Speaking at a banquet late on Saturday, with the Association of UN Correspondents (ACANU), Ban expressed hope that the six party talks would proceed smoothly.

He added that North Korea should continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the six-party talks.

Ban said it is regrettable that North Korea has not kept the deadline of April 13 to stop initial measures in accordance with the joint agreement within the six-party talks last February.

"I am encouraged that an agreement was reached in February and North Korea has agreed to abandon its nuclear programs in return for economic assistance and security assurances, this is what they should faithfully implement at this time," he stressed.

In his introductory remarks Ban told members of ACANU that he views the role of the media as very important and described the relation between the media and the UN as a partnership, noting that he emphasizes to his staff the importance of the issue of communicating.

He said the media in Geneva is writing the history of the international community, and the Geneva media has a very heavy responsibility and should be proud of it.

"You remind us of what the people of the world expect of us, you have the right and duty to remind me and remind the diplomats here, and even have the right to criticize what the UN in a constructive manner should be," he added.

Ban added that Geneva is the city of all the important issues in the international community, and is the largest city in terms of UN presence in the world even as compared to the UN in New York.