A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday the issue of the transfer of funds belonging to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has not yet been resolved.

Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference that problems with the transfer of the funds, which were frozen at a Macao-based bank, are yet to be completely solved. The six parties are working hard to resolve the problems.

Liu did not specify exactly what the problems are.

"The parties concerned have maintained contacts and are striving for an early settlement of the issue," said Liu, adding "China will pursue its efforts."

DPRK Friday reiterated its commitment to implement the Feb. 13 agreement, saying it would invite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation to the country once it recovers the 25 million U.S. dollars frozen in Macao's Banco Delta Asia (BDA).

"The DPRK remains firm in its desire to implement the Feb. 13 agreement, but it cannot move until the issue of the frozen funds has been completely settled," Ri Je-son, director of the DPRK General Department of Atomic Energy, said in reply to IAEA Director-General Mohamed el Baradei's request for a visit by the IAEA delegation to the DPRK.

In a joint document signed on Feb. 13, the six parties agreed to a 60-day deadline, which ended on Saturday, to implement a series of initial steps, including the shutdown and sealing of the Yongbyon nuclear facility and the provision of energy aid to the DPRK.

The six-party talks, aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, have been in recess since March 22 due to difficulties in resolving the BDA funds issue.

Source: Xinhua