Indonesia on Tuesday called on all concerned parties to smooth the payment of the 25 million U.S. dollars frozen funds of the Democratic People of Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Macau bank of China, in a bid to stimulate the impoverished country to comply with its obligation in the settlement of the nuclear crisis, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said in Jakarta.

Minister Wirajuda made the statement after meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister of DPRK Kim Yong Il at his office here. Il did not make any comment after the meeting.

"Please return the money appropriately to North Korea, so that the mutual trust can be built. And we hope North Korea can comply with its obligation too," he told reporters.

The minister said that during his recent visit to Washington, he had pushed the United States and other parties in the six-party talks to return the money to the DPRK.

The six-party talks involve China, Japan, Russia, the United States, South Korea and the DPRK.

"I come to Washington to encourage the United States and other parties of the six-party talks, (to make) a positive gesture to return their money, so that the North Korea can be expected to meet their obligation too. So that they were not in condition of one hampers another," said Wirajuda.

The dispute over the frozen funds has put a gloomy prospect over whether the DPRK can meet a deadline to begin shutting down its nuclear program as stipulated in the Feb. 13 nuclear agreement.

DPRK reiterated on Friday it would invite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation once it retrieves 25 million U.S. dollars frozen funds.

The DPRK funds were frozen after the United States blacklisted Macao's Banco Delta Asia for allegedly helping Pyongyang launder money. However, the bank has denied any wrongdoing.

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.

Minister Wirajuda also expressed the willingness of Indonesia to encourage the DPRK to appropriately settle the protracted nuclear dispute in the Korea Peninsula.

"We also want to push North Korea to address the issues of security and politics well," he said.

Wirajuda said that Indonesia asked DPRK to take part in contributing for the regional security.

The DPRK deputy foreign minister met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the afternoon at the Presidential office.

Source: Xinhua