New York  - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak held talks Monday with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the Middle East situation as well as North Korea's nuclear test.

Barak described as "very good" the discussion that centred around the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the situation in Lebanon as it prepares for general elections and the impact of North Korea's nuclear test on the rest of the world.

"I raise again the issue about our expectations for the UN and international community to exert all its influence to accelerate the dialogue about bringing home our abducted soldier Gilad Shalit," Barak told reporters after his meeting with Ban.

Hamas militants seized Shalit in 2006 in a daring operation that required digging a tunnel into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Barak said he was scheduled to meet with US officials, including US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, in Washington. (dpa)