"He has been saying that if there is a chance to visit North Korea, he will try to do so," a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

North Korea sparked international alarm when it announced Tuesday it plans a nuclear test at an unspecified date in response to what it called US military threats and sanctions.

Ban is set to be effectively confirmed as the next UN secretary general in a formal Security Council vote on Monday.

"Secretary general Kofi Annan has made a lot of contributions and taken initiatives by appointing a special envoy, but unfortunately during the last 10 years he has not been able to visit North Korea," Ban told the Financial Times in an interview.

"As I have gained a much deeper understanding and experience into the inter-Korean relationship, including North Korea, I think I will be in a much better position to handle this issue as secretary general."

Ban was quoted as saying that as South Korean foreign minister there may be some limitations, "but as secretary general of the UN, I think I will be able to handle this with North Korean authorities and South Korean authorities to facilitate inter-Korean co-operation and the six-party process.

"If necessary, I will take my own initiatives to visit both North and South Korea and I will try to engage (Pyongyang) myself," he said.

Several nations have warned the communist state of severe consequences if it goes ahead with the test. They urged the North to return to six-party talks aimed at scrapping its nuclear programme in return for energy aid and security guarantees.

The North has boycotted the talks since November in protest at US curbs on its access to overseas banks.

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