The U.S. government has urged North Korea to fulfill its obligations under agreements reached at previous six-way nuclear negotiations.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Tuesday that Washington wants the six-party process to move forward and said it’s very clear what Pyongyang’s obligations and responsibilities are under that process. He said once such efforts are concluded, North Korea will have a more normal relationship with the rest of the world, including the United States.

McCormack made the remark after being asked to comment on a statement made by the North on Tuesday in which Pyongyang said it will give up nuclear weapons only after the U.S. normalizes ties with the country and drops its hostile policies against North Korea.

The spokesman said that in order to normalize ties with Washington, North Korea is going to have to utilize the six-party process and denuclearize.

Asked if the U.S. recognizes North Korea as a nuclear state, McCormack said Washington does not.