The U.S. government has stressed that meaningful steps must come first from North Korea if the communist state wants to pursue dialogue or negotiations with the U.S.

State Department Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell told reporters Tuesday that Secretary of State John Kerry and President Barack Obama maintain the burden remains on Pyongyang. Ventrell said the North needs to take meaningful steps to show that it will honor its commitments.

The spokesman said the North knows what it needs to do in terms of stopping its provocations and showing a seriousness of purpose.

Ventrell's remarks came after he was asked to comment on reports that that United States will not talk with North Korea without any preconditions.