A Japanese daily says part of North Korea's 25 million U.S. dollars at a Macao bank was withdrawn last week, signaling a possible end to the months of dispute over the issue.

The Asahi Shimbun quoted an official from the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) bank as saying Wednesday that officials from two trade firms that deal with the North each withdrew some one million Hong Kong dollars last week.

The official added that the remaining funds had been converted to U.S. dollars Tuesday and were transferred to an account at the BDA belonging to the North’s Foreign Trade Bank.

The daily added that the remaining funds were apparently converted to U.S. dollars as part of preparations to transfer the money that is expected to pass through the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank.