Japan To Support South Korean Foreign Minister's Bid to Become UN Chief

Japan will support a bid by South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon to become the next chief of the United Nations, Foreign Minister Taro Aso told a news conference. "(Ban being assured of a victory in the election to pick the next U.N. secretary-general) is welcomed because we've constantly said that next U.N. chief should be picked from Asia," Aso said. "The prime minister will officially declare that Japan will back him."Ban Ki-MoonPrime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to tell South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun during a summit meeting in Seoul next Monday that Tokyo will support Ban in the U.N. election, Foreign Ministry officials said. Ban is to replace outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.