The call by Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon came as the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States were expecting to resume talks aimed at scrapping Pyongyang's nuclear arms next month.

"The most significant step to take at the November talks is to reach consensus on concrete action plans, or how to implement what has been agreed at the six-way talks," Ban said in a press conference for foreign media.

The latest talks ended in Beijing last month when the North agreed to a statement of principles under which it is to give up its atomic weapons in return for energy and security guarantees.

"The action plans should include North Korea's sincere declaration of nuclear weapons, nuclear programs and facilities and consultations among the countries concerned about the declaration," Ban said.

In return, the other five countries should simultaneously discuss corresponding measures, including the size and type of economic aid, and how to verify all these issues, he added.

Ban expressed regret over the North's surprise warning after the September talks that it would not dismantle its nuclear arsenal until the United States supplied a light-water reactor to allow it to generate power.

He said the issue will be discussed "in a natural manner" as the North abandons all of its nuclear programs, returns to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and allows nuclear inspections.

The crisis began in October 2002 when the United States accused North Korea of breaking a 1994 agreement by running a secret uranium-enrichment program.

North Korea denied the US claims but responded by throwing out international inspectors and withdrawing from the NPT. It later announced it had built nuclear bombs.