Washington has said it will keep sanctions on North Korea until the regime abandons its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

That position has contributed to the recent deadlock in denuclearization negotiations between the US and the North.

"We expect all member states to fully implement UN sanctions, including sectoral goods banned under UN Security Council resolutions, and expect all nations to take their responsibilities seriously to help end the DPRK's illegal nuclear and missile programs," the spokesperson added, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The UN sanctions aim to starve the Pyongyang regime of funds and resources to develop its nuclear and missile programs through severe restrictions on trade.

Moon's government has vowed to honor the international sanctions regime, but also raised the possibility of easing sanctions to incentivize the North to denuclearize.

US President Donald Trump has said that he expects to meet Kim for a second summit after the US midterm elections on Nov. 6.

The two held their first summit in Singapore in June, and agreed to work toward "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the US

US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun plans to visit Moscow, Paris and Brussels for working-level meetings with his counterparts, the spokesperson said, but there are no meetings to announce "at this time" between Biegun and the North Koreans.

Biegun has been tasked to lead negotiations with the North. He recently accompanied US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a trip to Pyongyang. (Yonhap)