U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has called on North Korea to take "concrete steps" to dismantle its nuclear weapons program as the two nations are set to hold high-level talks to arrange a second summit in Washington. 

Pence on Wednesday told a meeting of chiefs of U.S. overseas diplomatic missions that while President Trump has started a promising dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the U.S. still awaits concrete steps by North Korea to dismantle the nuclear weapons that threaten its people and its allies in the region.

Top North Korean official, Kim Yong-chol, is reportedly flying to Washington Thursday to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and finalize details of the second Trump-Kim summit.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also confirmed on Wednesday that Kim will visit the U.S. via Beijing.