North Korea was supposed to begin shutting down its key Yongbyon nuclear reactor on Saturday and admit UN atomic inspectors under an aid-for-disarmament deal reached in six-nation talks in Beijing in February.

Hill, who arrived in China on Friday as it became apparent North Korea might miss the deadline, said the US sent messages to Pyongyang over the weekend seeking answers.

"We made very clear that we think it's time for them to get on with it and invite the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) back in," a visibly irritated Hill said just before departing Beijing.

However, he noted North Korea's preoccupation with a massive birthday celebration for late former leader Kim Il-sung.

"They are celebrating a birthday there today and perhaps they were not able to get back to us," he said.

Hill said the US messages also made clear that about 25 million dollars in previously frozen North Korean funds in Macau bank accounts were now unblocked.

The reactor deadline had looked shaky for weeks as Pyongyang refused to begin shutting the facility until the money was released.

"We sent a message over the weekend to confirm that in our view, and frankly speaking in everyone else's view, the accounts are open and it's their turn now. The ball is in their court," he said.

"Why they haven't done that (taken back the funds), I just don't know," he added.

The accounts were frozen in 2005 by US financial measures imposed over suspicions that Macau's Banco Delta Asia was facilitating money-laundering and counterfeiting by Pyongyang's reclusive and cash-strapped regime.

Hill said, however, that the US would not take unilateral actions and would honour Chinese urgings to "be patient for three to four days."

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