WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Russia are making a plan to transfer 25 million U.S. dollars tied to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from an overseas bank blacklisted earlier this year by the Treasury Department, the department said Monday.

    "The United States is working with Russian and Macanese authorities to facilitate the transfer of (the DPRK) related funds previously frozen at Banco Delta Asia," Treasury Department spokeswoman Molly Millerwise told reporters.

    "We appreciate the willingness of the Russian government to facilitate this transaction and the good cooperation of the Macanese authorities," Millerwise said.

    The spokeswoman did not provide details about the U.S.-Russia cooperation.

    It was reported that Russia has accepted a U.S. request that a Russian bank accept the DPRK funds via a U.S. financial institution before they are moved to the DPRK.

    The United States has been urging the DPRK to fulfill its promise to shut down its major nuclear facility after the latter failed to shut down its main nuclear reactor by an April 14 deadline, as agreed in the six-party talks in February.

    The six parties include the U.S., the DPRK, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

    However, Pyongyang insisted that its 25 million dollars frozen at Macao-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA) must be returned before closing the Yongbyon nuclear reactor and starting new negotiations.

    Washington has been trying to persuade banks around the world, including U.S. banks, to transfer the money, but financial institutions have been unwilling to shoulder the risk because the U.S. Treasury Department alleged the DPRK money was tainted -- nearly half of which was obtained through illicit activities, such as money laundering and counterfeiting.

    The DPRK denies the charges. 

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    SEOUL, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia has accepted a U.S. request to help facilitate the transfer of a 25 million-U.S. dollar funds of Pyongyang to push forward the progress of the six-party talks, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Sunday. Full story

DPRK vows to fulfill promise on nuclear issue once frozen funds returned

    PYONGYANG, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) reiterated its commitment Tuesday to the implementation of the Feb. 13 agreement, saying it will fulfill its promise as soon as it has retrieved 25 million U.S. dollars in funds frozen in Macao's Banco Delta Asia. Full story