The U.S. says North Korea must fulfill international obligations before claiming the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a regular news briefing Wednesday that North Korea is not meeting such obligations.

Crowley made the remark in response to a question about the U.S. government’s stance on China’s recent statement that it believes North Korea has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Crowley said that although countries do have such rights, they also have responsibilities.

He said the U.S. and the international community would be open to having discussions with North Korea about how to meet its energy needs if Pyongyang meets its international obligations, follows through on the commitments it has made and opens itself up to international inspections.