North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29, breaking a 75-day pause in weapons testing from the regime. The new missile, according to Pyongyang, is capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to all parts of the US mainland.

"Administration policy on North Korea has not changed," the spokesperson said. "As we have stated repeatedly, we are open to the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, with the aim of de-nuclearizing the Korean peninsula."

For talks to take place, North Korea must first refrain from further provocations and "take sincere and meaningful actions toward denuclearization," he added.

Citing Tillerson, the spokesperson said the US will "know it when we see it" as to the right time for talks.

"The administration is united in insisting that any negotiations with North Korea must wait until the regime fundamentally improves its behavior," he said. "This administration will not repeat the failed policies of the past."

The State Department echoed those remarks, saying it remains "on the same page" as the White House.

"The secretary was not creating a new policy. Our policy remains exactly the same as it was," the department's spokeswoman Heather Nauert said during a regular press briefing.

"We remain open to dialogue when North Korea is willing to conduct a credible dialogue on the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." (Yonhap)