U.S. President Barack Obama says the best way for North Korea to improve relations with the U.S. is to abandon nuclear weapons development and stop provocative actions.

Obama made the remarks in an interview with MSNBC on Thursday.

Obama stressed that former President Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea was strictly a humanitarian mission and reiterated that the visit in no way signifies an easing of pressure on the North to comply with international regulations.

The president said he has yet to meet with Clinton to discuss the former president’s visit, but plans to do so in the near future.

During his visit, Clinton secured the release of two American journalists that had been detained by North Korea since March for entering the nation illegally.