The White House says that the results of the latest U.S.-North Korea high-level talks are a positive first step toward complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner.

White House spokesman Jay Carney made the remarks in a regular news briefing on Wednesday, local time.

But he said that the agreement needs to be followed up by actions, adding that making commitments is one thing and putting them into action is another.

Carney stressed that the resumption of the six-way nuclear talks will depend on actions the North takes to demonstrate that it is upholding the agreements that it has made.

He said it is a positive sign that in a relatively short period after the change of leadership in the North, it decided to reengage with the U.S. in substantive discussions and take some positive initial steps. But the White House spokesman added that North Korea is a reclusive country and the U.S. government will pursue the core goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula without making hasty predictions.