While the U.S. pressure on North Korea remains, Washington is still open to talks. Michael Pence, the Vice President of the U.S. said this as quoted by The Washington Post.
'The campaign on applying maximum pressure will continue and will be even more intensive. But if you want to talk, we will talk,' he said.
Asked which steps Pyongyang needs to take to have the sanctions lifted, Pence answered it is exactly why the negotiations are necessary - to find out. He added that the restrictions will remain in place while North Korea keeps up to its nuclear and missile programs.
Last week, the U.S. official said his government gets ready to implement the toughest possible sanctions against Pyongyang; they will be imposed after the ongoing Winter Olympics in South Korea.