The U.S. says it will continue to press North Korea to improve its human rights conditions.

Michael Posner, the assistant secretary of state for human rights, made the comment at a news briefing on the occasion of Human Rights Day on Friday.

Posner said that the human rights situation in North Korea is abysmal and that there continues to be widespread violations in the prisons and a lack of freedom of speech, assembly and association. He said he doesn't see any change in what's really a quite grim situation.

Posner also said the U.S. will continue to raise those concerns publicly and in every way it can.

He added that State Department special envoy on North Korean human rights Robert King is monitoring the North's situation daily.