The UN Security Council officially nominated South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon as its next secretary general on Monday, as he promised he would work to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.

Under the UN charter, the 15-member Security Council recommends the next secretary general to the 192-member General Assembly, which must give final approval.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon adjusts his glasses during a press conference in Seoul on Monday after being officially nominated as the UN's next secretary general.
(Lee Jin-man/Associated Press)

"The Security Council has just recommended to the General Assembly that Mr. Ban Ki-moon be appointed secretary general of the United Nations" on Jan. 1 when Secretary General Kofi Annan's second five-year term expires, Japan's UN ambassador, Kenzo Oshima, told reporters after the council voted at a private meeting.

In Seoul, Ban expressed gratitude for being nominated and said he would work to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear program after the Communist country conducted an unprecedented atomic test.

If appointed to the top job at the global body, Ban said he would contribute as much as he could "to the resolution of all kinds of problems, including the North Korean nuclear issue that may threaten international peace and security."

Experts say Ban faces likely confirmation for the job by the UN General Assembly.