U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg says Washington will normalize relations with Pyongyang "only if North Korea addresses the core threat it poses in the region."

Steinberg made the statement during a seminar in Washington on Thursday.

He stressed the need for concrete and demonstrable action by the North as he said that Washington has made clear that Pyongyang will not be rewarded simply for talking.

Steinberg said the most important principle for the U.S. under current conditions is to devise strategies with South Korea as it had during the North’s second nuclear test, its launch of a long-range missile, as well as the Cheonan incident.

He said another important principle is for North Korea's two major allies, China and Russia, to sustain a strong sense of community with South Korea and the U.S. when dealing with the challenges posed by the North.