State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said Wednesday that the United States would be open to talking to North Korea “when the time is right,” but that it could not happen now because Pyongyang has shown no sign of a willingness to halt its missile and nuclear testing, reported Reuters news agency. 

She said there would first have to be a “period of calm” in which Pyongyang suspends testing before any negotiations could begin.

Nauert, speaking at the State Department’s daily briefing, insisted that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was not establishing a new policy in his speech, with his offer on Tuesday to start talks with North Korea without preconditions.