The United States Friday denied reports that Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill will visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the near future.

"He (Hill) has no plans at this point to travel to Pyongyang," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a news briefing.

"What he's looking forward to now is seeing the BDA issue in our rearview mirror and then getting back to the six-party talks in Beijing.

The BDA refers to Macao-based Banco Delta Asia, a bank where some 25 million U.S. dollars belonging to Pyongyang have been frozen after the United States blacklisted the BDA in September 2005, accusing it of being a money-laundering front for the DPRK.

The DPRK has denied the U.S. charges.

The six parties include the United States, the DPRK, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. China is the host of the six-party talks.

Under an 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 DPRK, which missed the April 14 deadline, insisted that its 25 million dollars frozen at the BDA must be returned before closing the Yongbyon nuclear reactor and starting new negotiations.

Source: Xinhua