The United States and North Korea are known to have plans for bilateral talks in a third country as soon as the delayed transfer of North Korean funds at a Macao bank is resolved.

A senior diplomatic source said that the Banco Delta Asia standoff is in the first stage of resolution thanks to Russia's efforts, adding that the process is well under way and that it will likely be resolved this week or by early next week.

Once the BDA issue is settled, the U.S. and North Korea are expected to meet and discuss the shutdown of the North's nuclear facilities, the provision of heavy fuel oil compensation and the normalizing of their diplomatic ties.

The bilateral talks are expected to take place in Beijing or in a Southeast Asian or European country some time next week, while the six-party nuclear dialogue is forecast to reopen this month as well.