The United States says that a team of U.S. officials that recently visited North Korea to meet with an American detained by the North had no discussions with the communist country other than those related to the release of the detainee.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a daily news briefing that he is not aware of any policy discussions being held between the two sides while the team was in Pyongyang last week.

He said that the purpose of the team’s visit to Pyongyang was to meet with Aijalon Gomes, assess his health and try to garner his release.

Crowley said the U.S. government will continue its discussions with North Korea on getting Gomes back and will press the North to release him on humanitarian grounds.