United States Senator John Kerry says that high-level talks between the U.S. and North Korea are necessary to determine whether Pyongyang is committed to creating a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

Kerry said that as well as tough actions against the North, diplomatic dialogue should also be sought in order to bring peace to the region.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations made the remarks in a speech delivered during a congressional forum on the peace and security of the Koreas.

Kerry said that the U.S. should be fully prepared for any attacks by North Korea, but at the same time, should work to devise fundamental solutions to instability through peaceful negotiations.

The senator said that South Korea and the U.S. showed restrained responses to North Korea in relation to the sinking of the “Cheonan” naval vessel in order to help establish a permanent peace.

Kerry called for direct and frank dialogue with the North as a way to see if North Korea is ready to take concrete measures for denuclearization.