China on Tuesday welcomed the positive progress made in resolving the frozen funds issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), adding the parties concerned are in close contact about a specific date for resuming the six-party nuclear talks.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang praised the DPRK's decision to invite the IAEA for discussions. "We believe the move shows the DPRK's political will to implement the Feb. 13 joint document," he said.

Chinese chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei had talks with his U.S. counterpart Christopher Hill here on Monday. According to Qin, both discussed the current situation of the nuclear talks and how to move the process forward, and agreed to take active measures to implement the initial steps.

Qin said he cannot confirm whether the DPRK has received the unfrozen funds since the money was not remitted via China.

"We hope that all the parties will continue to take positive steps, abide by their commitments and take comprehensive and balanced actions so that the six-party talks can make further progress," the spokesman said.

At the invitation of the DPRK, an IAEA delegation will visit the country to discuss issues regarding the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.

The DPRK's invitation came after it confirmed its funds at the Macao bank were in the final phase of being unfrozen.

The DPRK's ambassador to Russia Kim Yong Che said on Monday the funds had arrived at the Central Bank of Russia and will be transferred to the DPRK foreign trade bank via a Russian bank in Khabarovsk.

The ambassador reaffirmed the DPRK's readiness to fulfill all its commitments undertaken at the six-party talks, a multi-national negotiation on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Hill expressed his optimism on Monday, adding the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear complex in DPRK would be completed in a matter of weeks.

According to the agreement reached on Feb. 13 at the six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program, the DPRK was supposed to shut down and seal the Yongbyon facilities within 60 days in exchange for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid.

Source: Xinhua