The White House released a statement in response on Tuesday afternoon saying it “will look at” North Korea’s comments as it moves forward.





“We are aware of the South Korean media report. The United States will look at what North Korea has said independently, and continue to coordinate closely with our allies,” press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.





Before the White House released its statement, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said there had been no talks between the United States and North Korea about the statement attributed to the North Korean news agency.





“I just saw that report as I was coming out here,” said Nauert at an on-camera press briefing.





She said the military exercises are planned well in advance, and that Kim said previously that he understands the need and the utility of continuing the joint exercises.





“We have not heard anything from [the North Korean government] or the government of South Korea to indicate that we would not continue conducting these exercises or that we would not continue planning for our meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un next month,” she said.





“What we have to go on is what Kim Jong Un had said before, that he understands and appreciates the importance to the United States of having these joint exercises.”





“We will continue to go ahead and plan the meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.”



