A senior US State Department official reaffirmed his stance on maintaining sanctions on North Korea Thursday, saying he will continue to criticize North Korea's missile launches.

This is a sense of temperature difference from the position of US President Donald Trump, who responded that the issue would not be a problem as it is a "small- and short-range missile" that does not pose a threat to the United States in relation to the subsequent launches of North Korea.

Secretary of State Andrea Thomson, disarmament and international security secretary, was asked how he would evaluate North Korea's missile launches at the conference call. "We are working with our partners and allies while maintaining our resolution."

He also worked hand in hand with these partners and allies to maintain a firm pressure on North Korea, adding that Kim Jong-un is making North Korea accountable for his promises with President Trump.

"We will continue to be involved with the North," Thompson said. "We want to have a deal."

"There will be a working negotiation, and we have faith and confidence that Trump and Kim will be involved again," he said.

"I don't have a date. It's not the news I'm going to burst."

He repeatedly emphasized that he would ultimately want to denuclearize North Korea through cooperation with partners and allies.

"So we will continue to pursue it," he said. "Negotiations will continue and we will be held accountable for Kim's promises to our president."

(yunhap news)