Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon has urged North Korea to put into action its recent pledge to join global efforts to prevent money laundering.

In a regular news briefing Tuesday, he urged the North to clear up international suspicion over alleged irregularities involving the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, calling the matter an obstacle to the six-party nuclear talks.

Ban also said that after the Asia visits of a U.S. Treasury Department delegation, affected countries are conducting internal inspections and evaluations, and that consultations will speed up after the procedures are complete.