US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said the United States "still hopes for diplomacy" to resolve the crisis with North Korea, which Washington has listed as a "terrorist-supporting" country.
"The general impression is that the pressure from the sanctions that are already in place" has a significant impact on North Korea, "the US diplomat told reporters at the White House.
He expressed the hope that the "calm period" under way - without missile launches or nuclear tests by North Korea - from September 15 "would continue".
The US Secretary of State also noted that Washington's decision to include North Korea in this list of countries that support terrorism will help prevent third parties from supporting Pyongyang.