A Japanese daily says the United States is considering easing financial sanctions on North Korea.

The Yomiuri Shimbun cites congressional sources as saying Washington could allow the unfreezing of 13 million out of the 24 million dollars in North Korean assets frozen at the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia.

The sources said the U.S. State Department could try to persuade the Treasury Department to allow the move to defuse its standoff with the North and make concrete progress at the nuclear talks. The Treasury Department is more cautious over lifting the sanctions.

The 13 million dollars are confirmed as unrelated to laundered money.

Yomiuri said Washington will first see if Pyongyang agrees to nuclear dismantlement at next month's six-way talks and its response to the U.S. request to stop illegal activities that will come during bilateral talks opening Tuesday.