The U.S. State Department has reaffirmed that North Korea would have to show some serious steps and meet conditions for dialogue before the U.S. could engage in talks.
 
Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Wednesday in a news briefing that Washington would like to have talks with North Korea when it stops nuclear and missile tests and halts acts that undermine stability in Northeast Asia.
 
Nauert also said Washington has no intention to put a halt to its joint military exercises with Seoul called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, saying that these drills will be held as scheduled.
 
She dismissed a so-called “double freeze” proposal, which would see the U.S. and South Korea suspend joint military drills in exchange for North Korea halting nuclear and missile tests.
 
China and Russia have called for the double freeze approach to get North Korea back to the negotiating table to discuss its denuclearization.

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