The U.S. says there have been some signals indicating a new openness by North Korea in relation to South Korea but that it won't read too much into any one action.

State Department acting deputy spokesman Mark Toner made the remark in response to a reporter’s question about the department’s assessment of North Korea having a high-level government official speak to the AP and the BBC.

Toner, however, followed that up by saying that "North Korea knows what it needs to do to play a more constructive role in the region and the U.S. hopes that it takes those steps."

Regarding a U.S. think tank report saying the North Koreans are forging ahead in the enrichment of uranium, Toner said the department is aware of the report but that he can’t speak to it in great detail.