Anchor: Washington is getting ready to resume nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang following the inter-Korean summit earlier this week. But the two sides need to iron out differences on the sequencing of their measures. As the North called for the U.S.' "corresponding measures," the U.S. State Department spokeswoman told reporters nothing will come before denuclearization. 
Kim In-kyung has more. 

Report: 

[Sound bite: US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert]
"Nothing can happen in the absence of denuclearization. Denuclearization has to come first." 

The U.S. has dismissed North Korea's conditional offer of taking further denuclearization steps.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert reaffirmed Washington's denuclearization first policy in a briefing on Thursday.

[Sound bite: US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert]
"In order to get to the denuclearization of North Korea, sanctions must be enforced. We cannot let our foot off the gas." 

Comments came amid Russia's call for easing some sanctions on North Korea.
 
Following the latest inter-Korean summit earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed willingness to permanently shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility if the U.S. took "corresponding measures."

[Sound bite: US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert]
"We also welcome Chairman Kim's decision to complete the previously announced dismantlement of various sites. So all of that is good news. We see that as progress and we're prepared to engage immediately in negotiations if and when they're ready."  

But efforts are under way to iron out differences on the thorny sequencing issue.

Appearing on Fox News on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. has made steady but slow progress, adding it has always known the process was going to take some time.

He said although it doesn't get reported, he has been talking to North Korean officials with some frequency even before the leaders of the two Koreas held a third summit in Pyongyang this week. 

He assessed the latest inter-Korean summit was a successful engagement that yielded North Korea's promise to dismantle its missile testing site in front of international inspectors.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.