The White House has responded to North Korea's proposal for talks, saying it's open to dialogue only if Pyongyang lives up to its "obligations to the world."

The White House's spokeswoman for the National Security Council, Caitlin Hayden, said Sunday that the U.S. has always favored dialogue and has open lines of communication with North Korea. She then elaborated that such efforts are aimed at having "credible negotiations," and that Pyongyang on its part has to live up to its obligations to the world.

The spokeswoman also specified that such obligations would include compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions, and ultimately in denuclearization. She also stressed that the U.S. will only judge Pyongyang by "its actions and not its words."

The cautious response came shortly after North Korea’s National Defense Commission proposed high-level talks with the U.S. in its spokesman's statement released on Sunday.

The North asked to discuss various issues at the talks, such as easing military tensions, turning the Korean War armistice into a peace treaty, and Washington's plan to make a nuclear-free world. The proposal did not specify a time or location for the talks, saying the U.S. can decide on the details.

The North's spokesman cautioned, however, that the issue of denuclearization does not just refer to the dismantlement of the North's nuclear weapons programs, in an apparent indication that Pyongyang wants to see the U.S. take similar denuclearization measures and reduce threats to the North.

South Korea apparently sees eye to eye with the U.S. on the latest remarks to come out of Washington.

Unification Minister Kim Hyung-suk said Monday that Seoul's views are the same as those expressed by the White House on Sunday. He said sincerity and specific actions concerning denuclearization are critical if Pyongyang wants high-level dialogue with the U.S.