North Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Kye Kwan is in Beijing, where six-nation talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program resume on Monday

North Korea's chief nuclear envoy says his country will not stop its nuclear program until the United States fully releases funds currently frozen in a Macau bank.

Kim Kye Kwan made the comments Saturday in Beijing, where he will join six-nation talks Monday on Pyongyang's recent agreement to close its main nuclear facility by April 13th.

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Washington imposed restrictions on Macau's Banco Delta Asia in 2005, accusing it of laundering money from North Korea's illicit activities. Macau then froze about 24 million dollars in funds linked to North Korea.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Department ended its investigation into Banco Delta Asia and banned U.S. banks from doing business with it. The move makes it possible for the bank to release North Korean assets.

As part of a disarmament agreement reached last month in six-party talks, Washington agreed to resolve the issue. North Korea will also receive financial and diplomatic concessions.

Chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill says he plans to discuss the sanctions issue with Kim in Beijing.

Hill and representatives of South Korea, China, Japan and Russia are gathering in Beijing for preliminary working party talks ahead of Monday's formal session.

North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon last year.