By Yi Whan-woo





Ban Ki-moon

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong on Saturday to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula, a U.N. source said Monday.

The source said the two were expected to discuss ways to promote peace and security between the two Koreas, Pyongyang's human rights situation and its relationship with the U.N.

Ri is in New York to address at the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday. Marking its 69th regular session, the annual U.N. meeting will run from Sept. 24-30.

The U.N. has been stepping up pressure on the dictatorial regime for violating its rules on human rights and sanctions against nuclear weapons development.

On Sept. 19, the U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a report that called for the North Korean people to have political freedom and better human rights.

The report, titled the Universal Periodic Review, asked the totalitarian regime to accept its 268 recommendations on human rights issues. They included shutting down political prisoners' camps and abolishing public executions.

North Korea said it had rejected 83 of the recommendations, while accepting 185 for further review.

On July 17, the U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea for carrying out ballistic missile launches between June and July. It said the three rounds of Scud short-range missiles fired violated the U.N.'s ban on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Back then, Ban also expressed regret over the North's continued missile launches.

The U.N. chief urged Pyongyang to work instead toward building confidence and mutual trust with its neighbors.

During the General Assembly, Ban will also meet about 110 top representatives from the U.N. member states, including President Park Geun-hye, U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

It is the first time in 15 years that North Korea has sent its top diplomat as its envoy to the Assembly, according to a government source. The North previously sent deputy ministers, the source added.