The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that its policy on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) remains the same as before, noting it is not "the right time" to start talks with Pyongyang.
"We remain open to dialogue when North Korea (the DPRK) is willing to conduct a credible dialogue on the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said at a daily briefing.
Nauert's words came after U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson offered on Tuesday to have a dialogue with the DPRK "without preconditions."
The U.S. top diplomat told a policy forum in Washington that dialogue is possible whenever Pyongyang is ready.
Insisting that Tillerson was not "creating any new policy," Nauert said the DPRK is not showing any "interest or seriousness" about wanting to sit down to talk.
"Now is not the right time (for talk)," Nauert added.
Nauert also emphasized that Tillerson is "on the same page" as the White House. Responding to Tillerson's remarks, the White House also said later Tuesday that there was no policy change on the DPRK.
Tension has been mounting on the Korean Peninsula since Pyongyang successfully test-fired a newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile in late November, drawing strong condemnation by the international community.
The United States has insisted that negotiations should be based on the DPRK's nuclear disarmament.
