Foreign Minister Yoon Young-Kwan told the newspaper in an interview that Seoul was opposed to the plan.

"I think it better for us to resolve this outside the UN framework," said Yoon, adding that diplomatic efforts should be exhausted before further steps are considered by the United States and its allies to counter North Korea's nuclear weapons threat.

Yoon's comments coincided with a visit to Seoul of top US arms control official John Bolton, who will meet with Yoon later Wednesday to push for UN Security council involvement in the nine-month old crisis.

The undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, considered one of the leading hawks on North Korea in the administration of President George W. Bush, said on arrival in Seoul on Tuesday he was intent on bringing the nuclear crisis before the UN Security Council.

Asked whether UN role, vehemently opposed by North Korea, would conflict with efforts to resolve the crisis through multilateral talks, he said: "No. I think it will be complementary. We have favoured (the nuclear crisis) being in the security council because that's appropriate."

Twice since the crisis erupted in October last year, US efforts to bring the nuclear statemate to the Security Council have been blocked by opposition from permanent members China and Russia.

WAR.WIRE