BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday called for proper settlement of the frozen funds issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with consideration of all parties' concerns.

    Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press briefing China has been in close contact with parties concerned, and hopes the issue could be appropriately resolved as soon as possible.

    "It is hard to avoid obstacles in the process of six-party talks, which bears great responsibilities. We believe parties concerned are capable of overcoming these difficulties and pushing forward the talks," Jiang said.

    The DPRK agreed to shut down and seal its Yongbyon nuclear facility during the last phase of the six-party talks in February, on the condition that its 25 million-U.S. dollar funds frozen in the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) in Macao are returned.

    The United States blacklisted the BDA in September 2005, accusing it of being a money-laundering front for the DPRK. The DPRK has denied the charges.