Secretary-General's press encounter with CNN upon arrival at UNHQ (unofficial transcript)

SG: I think both are of concern. We will have to try and deal with both as effectively as we can and to avoid any major escalation.

Q: Is North Korea an issue for the Security Council at this time?

SG: I think effective diplomatic action, I mean energetic diplomatic action is underway and I hope they will help resolve the conflict. I think the Atomic Agency [IAEA] has indicated we should give diplomacy a chance, and there is quite a lot of effort going on at the moment and I'm hopeful it will work.

Q: Should Iraq let scientists leave the country?

SG: Well, that is something the inspectors will be discussing with them.

Q: Killing of UN employees in the MidEast –do you feel there's been enough progress to stop such a thing from happening?

SG: No, I am not pleased with the level of killings of UN staff and this is something that the Member States and all of us take very seriously. We need to not only take it seriously but take measures to ensure that the perpetrators are punished or made accountable.

Q: Do you sense the war is moving away on Iraq –people are giving the inspectors more time?

SG: I don't think the Council expected it to be done by January. I think the discussions last week were clear –that most Council members and the inspectors feel that they need a bit more time. Yes, there were gaps in the Iraq submission, but I believe the inspectors will be pressing them to explain the gaps, to fill in the gaps, and I consider the visit by Mr. [Hans] Blix and [Mohammed] ElBaradei next week to be a crucial one.