The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) yesterday 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 retrieves the 25 million dollars in funds frozen in Macao's Banco Delta Asia.

"The DPRK remains unchanged in its will to implement the Feb. 13 agreement, but what matters is that it cannot move as the issue of frozen funds has not yet been completely settled," Ri Je-son, director of the General Department of Atomic Energy of the DPRK, said in a reply to IAEA Director-General Mohame el-Baradei's request for a visit by the IAEA delegation to the DPRK.

Ri said the DPRK decided to suspend operations at the nuclear facility in Yongbyon on the premise that the U.S. side unfreezes the DPRK's funds in the Banco Delta Asia in Macao within 30 days after publication of the Feb. 13 agreement.

"Working negotiations are now brisk between a DPRK bank and the above-said bank to settle the issue," Ri said.

"The DPRK is ready to invite (the IAEA delegation) the moment the actual unfreezing of the frozen funds in the bank has been confirmed," he added.

Under the agreement adopted by the six parties during their latest talks on Feb. 13, 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. The deadline to shut down the nuclear plant passed on April 14.