The United States says that the pursuit of a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War hinges on North Korea's implementation of denuclearization steps.

In a statement issued by National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe, the White House stressed that North Korea must abide by the six-way agreement to scrap its nuclear program before there can be a formal peace treaty and normalized U.S.-North Korea ties.

His remarks come just after the two Koreas announced a summit declaration in which they agreed to seek a three- or four-way summit for the establishment of a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Stressing the importance of the ongoing six-party process, Johndroe said that a peace treaty, normalized ties and the removal of Pyongyang from the U.S. list of state terrorism sponsors fully depend on the action-to-action principle agreed on at the six-party talks.