The United States has stressed that North Korea needs to take concrete steps toward denuclearization.

State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Thursday that Washington needs Pyongyang to show its willingness to fulfill commitments made under the September 19th, 2005 joint statement.

The spokesman added that Washington recognizes that words are not enough and that action is needed.

During the briefing, Toner was asked to comment on North Korean U.N. ambassador Sin Son-ho’s comment that the U.S. has no moral justification to lecture other countries about the proliferation of nuclear arms. The North Korean diplomat also said that the U.S. missile defense system will set off a new nuclear arms race.

Toner said Washington has made nonproliferation a priority while working with like-minded countries around the world, and the U.S. will continue to pursue the nonproliferation aim.