The completed transfer of North Korea's money from a Macau bank has prompted Pyongyang to start implementing a February agreement on nuclear disarmament, by inviting working-level representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The North's official Korea Central News Agency said the officials will be invited in the wake of the fund transfe to Pyongyang's account with a private Russian bank.

A Pyongyang official in charge of nuclear affairs sent the invitation to the international watchdog's chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

The North said it will also discuss the scope and methods of inspection with IAEA delegates once they arrive there.

Pyeongyang has refused to implement the dismantlement agreement over the delayed transfer of its money from Macau's Banco Delta Asia, and expelled IAEA inspectors in 2002.

A Seoul official called the announcement a positive development in making the Korean Peninsula nuclear free.