U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he is willing to play any role in improving strained inter-Korean relations, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Ban made the remark during a meeting with Rep. Kim Moo-sung, chairman of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

"I am willing to play any role in contributing to bringing North Korea back to dialogue and improving the South-North relations," Ban said.