The Security Council officially nominated South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon to be the next U.N. secretary-general, the council president announced Monday.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon arrives at his office in Seoul October 3, 2006. South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon was virtually assured on Monday of succeeding Kofi Annan as U.N. secretary-general, emerging as the only candidate without a veto in a final informal Security Council poll. [Reuters]

"The Security Council has just recommeded to the General Assembly that Mr. Ban Ki-Moon be appointed secretary-general of the United Nations" on Jan. 1 when Secretary-General Kofi Annan's second five-year term expires, Japan's U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima told reporters after the council voted at a private meeting.

Under the U.N. Charter, the 15-member Security Council makes a recommendation for the next secretary-general to the 192-member General Assembly, which must give final approval.