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Psy Does Gangnam Style Dance With UN Leader

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been taking dancing lessons from South Korean rapper Psy.

Mr Ban, who is also South Korean, joked that he felt overshadowed by the Gangnam Style singer, whose video has clocked up more than half a billion views on YouTube.

"I'm a bit jealous. Until two days ago someone told me I am the most famous Korean in the world. Now I have to relinquish. I have no regrets," he said.

The two lavished praise on each other at the UN's headquarters in New York, with Mr Ban risking a few of Psy's trademark horse-riding dance moves from Gangnam Style.

"So now you have first and second famous Korean in the same building," Psy told reporters, adding that he had nothing but praise for Mr Ban.

"For all the Koreans he is the guy, you know, in everyone's heart in Korea, the best among the best," said the 34-year-old.

"To be here and he knows me, even the thing that he knows me is so touching right now, and he's saying he saw my video. He counted my video views.

"This is much more better feeling than when I did No 2 on Billboard (US music chart)."

Although Psy has been a hit in his home country for years, it took Gangnam Style to propel him to worldwide stardom, getting to No 1 in the UK Singles Chart.

He has appeared on numerous television programmes in the US, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Saturday Night Live and The X Factor, and his moves have been performed by the likes of Nelly Furtado and Britney Spears.

The official video accompanying Gangnam Style has prompted numerous parodies, including a group of US lifeguards and some pupils from Eton.

Mr Ban's meeting with Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, was a break from the conflict and wars the UN leader usually deals with.

Mr Ban's spokesman said the Secretary General thinks it is important to engage different parts of society.