The head of the U.S. Pacific Command says North Korea must halt its nuclear weapons program and missile tests if its wants to receive food aid.

Admiral Robert Willard said during a hearing of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday a precondition exists in order to make headway in negotiations on providing the food aid. He said the North must suspend its nuclear weapons program and missile testing, as well as allowing inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter its nuclear facilities.

Willard’s remark differs with Washington’s position that the provision of food aid is a humanitarian matter and does not factor in political variables, including the North’s denuclearization.

His statement is drawing attention as it comes amid reports that the U.S. and the North coordinated views on resuming the six-way nuclear talks and providing food aid to the North during their third round of high-level talks in Beijing last week.