Macau's Monetary Authority said Wednesday that holders of North Korean accounts frozen at a bank blacklisted by the United States can withdraw or transfer their money.

The funds at the small Macao lender Banco Delta Asia have become a key sticking point in six-party negotiations to close North Korea's nuclear programs. The money was to be released last month, but disputes over the accounts have stalled the process.

Wendy Au, a spokeswoman at Macao's Monetary Authority, told The Associated Press that the money was ready to be handed over to the owners of the accounts.

"The account holders, as long as they are authorized, can proceed to the bank to withdraw or transfer the money," she said, without commenting further.

A Treasury Department statement released by US Embassy in Beijing Wednesday said the US understands that the Macao authorities are ready to unblock all money frozen in the Banco Delta Asia in Macao.

It said that the US supports the decision to unblock the accounts.

In a deal struck in February, North Korea pledged to shut down its main nuclear reactor by Saturday in exchange for energy aid and political concessions.

North Korea had insisted that US$25 million (euro18.6 million) frozen at Banco Delta Asia, blacklisted by Washington for allegedly helping the North launder money, must be released before it closes its Yongbyon reactor.

BDA will try its best to accomodate its account holders' requests, the bank's spokesman Joe Wong said. He said he did not know whether any of the frozen funds were withdrawn yet.