A Japanese lawmaker says North Korea and the United States will hold working-level talks on Pyongyang's frozen accounts with the Macao-based Banco Delta Asia.

Taku Yamasaki, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, recently visited North Korea for five days.

He quoted North Korea's ambassador in charge of Japanese relations Song Il-ho as saying Pyongyang and Washington will discuss the matter from January 22nd.

Song said the six-party nuclear talks will resume right away depending on the results of the discussion.

A government official in Seoul also did not deny the possibility of the two sides discussing dates and venue for the meeting.

The top U.S. negotiator to the six-party talks Christopher Hill will visit South Korea, China and Japan from January 19th to the 21st, to discuss the six-way talks.

Another Seoul official said Hill's trip is apparently intended to help resume the nuclear talks.