SEOUL, May 15: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on Monday for urgent action to end the nuclear standoff with Iran and for an early return to negotiations with North Korea. Following talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, Mr Annan said the Iranian nuclear issue must be resolved speedily to avert a potential flood of nuclear proliferation.

“The international community has to take very urgent steps to deal with these issues before we have a cascade of a proliferation of nuclear weapons,” said Mr Annan, on the first leg of an Asian tour that will also take him to Japan, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

He said a meeting of diplomats in New York a week ago had sparked renewed confidence in a diplomatic outcome for the Iran issue.

“I’m encouraged by intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve this issue peacefully,” he said. “It’s in everyone’s interest to settle this issue peacefully.”

On North Korea, Mr Annan said that stalled six-party talks should resume.

“I would urge the parties to the six-party talks... back to the table to continue discussions because it is the only table where we are going to find a solution,” he said.

The UN chief also addressed simmering tension between Japan and both South Korea and China over Tokyo’s wartime aggression, as well as territorial disputes.

“The dialogue between the three countries must continue. There is no doubt that all three countries need to be in good relationship with each other,” he said.

During his tour, Mr Annan is also seeking Asian support for reforms to the UN.

Expansion of the UN Security Council is one of several key reforms for which he hopes to gain support.

Mr Annan, who arrived here on Sunday, is scheduled to meet President Roh Moo-Hyun on Tuesday for further talks on UN reform and the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear programme.

South Korean officials privately hope that Mr Annan’s visit could increase the country’s foreign minister’s chances of replacing him as UN secretary-general.

On Tuesday Mr Annan will leave for Tokyo. Japan said it planned to discuss UN reform during his visit.

China’s foreign ministry said Mr Annan would visit Beijing from May 19 to 23 and would meet President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan.—AFP