U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on North Korea on Thursday to resolve problems through dialogue and become a responsible member of the international community as the communist nation is set to hold a key national meeting.

Ban made the remark to reporters after a visit to Brookland Middle School in Washington, saying sanctions on Pyongyang are aimed more at persuading the North to join the international community, rather than punishing the regime.

"I hope the North will heed to this and step forward to resolve problems through dialogue," he said.

Concerns persist that the North could carry out yet another nuclear test in concert with the Workers' Party Congress, scheduled for Friday for the first time in 36 years. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to use the meeting to further solidify his grip on power.

Last month, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong made a rare visit to New York for the signing of a U.N. climate agreement.

At the time, Ban had a brief, hand-shaking encounter with Ri.

During the encounter, Ban said he expressed thanks for Ri's attendance and asked for the North's active participation in such global initiatives. (Yonhap)