The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Seoul

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon received a hero's welcome on Thursday as he returned to his native South Korea for the first trip since taking up the post.

Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo greeted Ban upon his arrival at a military airport in southern Seoul, a diplomatic honour which had not been granted for nearly a decade. The foreign minister usually receives visiting dignitaries.

"I'm very happy and filled with deep emotion to come back to my homeland and extend my greetings to you 18 months after taking office," Ban said. "I should have come earliert I'm sorry for coming late because I had to handle urgent international issues."

Dozens of South Korean officials warmly greeted the UN chief, who inspected a military honour guard and was treated to a gun salute.

"As a Korean secretary general of the United Nations, I will do my best to help South Korea build up its national power," he said.