This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6533617.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| N Korea fund row solution 'found' | N Korea fund row solution 'found' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The US has said it has found a way to transfer frozen North Korean funds in a row that has been holding up moves to shut Pyongyang's nuclear facilities. | The US has said it has found a way to transfer frozen North Korean funds in a row that has been holding up moves to shut Pyongyang's nuclear facilities. |
| A State Department spokesman said the US was supporting the release of $25m (£12.7m) held in a Macao bank. | |
| "We have identified a way to potentially implement fully the agreement," the spokesman said. | "We have identified a way to potentially implement fully the agreement," the spokesman said. |
| Until it gets the money back, Pyongyang is refusing to take steps to implement a landmark deal signed in February. | Until it gets the money back, Pyongyang is refusing to take steps to implement a landmark deal signed in February. |
| Under the deal, the North agreed to shut its main nuclear reactor in 60 days, which is now only eight days away. | Under the deal, the North agreed to shut its main nuclear reactor in 60 days, which is now only eight days away. |
| Deal 'unlikely' | Deal 'unlikely' |
| US negotiators left talks Beijing earlier in the day without solving the dispute. | US negotiators left talks Beijing earlier in the day without solving the dispute. |
| Earlier this week China's nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei said the deadline was unlikely to be met because of the funding dispute. | Earlier this week China's nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei said the deadline was unlikely to be met because of the funding dispute. |
| The money was kept in the Banco Delta Asia in Macau, which has been on a US blacklist since September 2005. | The money was kept in the Banco Delta Asia in Macau, which has been on a US blacklist since September 2005. |
| However State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said later on Friday that the US was ready to discuss the transfer with Macau authorities "and other interested parties as they work to implement that decision", according to the Associated Press (AP). | However State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said later on Friday that the US was ready to discuss the transfer with Macau authorities "and other interested parties as they work to implement that decision", according to the Associated Press (AP). |
| "The implementation phase of that is going to be up to others," he said. | "The implementation phase of that is going to be up to others," he said. |
| According to AP, Mr McCormack said the money had to be used for the "betterment of the North Korean people and for humanitarian purposes". | According to AP, Mr McCormack said the money had to be used for the "betterment of the North Korean people and for humanitarian purposes". |
| The bank has been on a US blacklist since September 2005 | The bank has been on a US blacklist since September 2005 |
| US delegates at the Beijing discussions - led by senior US Treasury official Daniel Glaser - have not given up hope of a deal being reached yet. | US delegates at the Beijing discussions - led by senior US Treasury official Daniel Glaser - have not given up hope of a deal being reached yet. |
| "We believe that it is possible to meet the 60-day deadline and are working with the other parties to accomplish that goal," said Susan Stevenson, a US Embassy spokeswoman in Beijing. | "We believe that it is possible to meet the 60-day deadline and are working with the other parties to accomplish that goal," said Susan Stevenson, a US Embassy spokeswoman in Beijing. |
| "Our discussions and common efforts with all parties continue," she said. | "Our discussions and common efforts with all parties continue," she said. |
| Under the landmark 13 February deal, the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia jointly agreed to supply energy aid and other incentives to North Korea if it "shut down and sealed" its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. | Under the landmark 13 February deal, the US, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia jointly agreed to supply energy aid and other incentives to North Korea if it "shut down and sealed" its main nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. |