Washington, Apr 26 (IANS): White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders on Wednesday said North Korea was "moving in the right direction" on the issue of Korean Peninsula denuclearization.

Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said North Korean top leader Kim Jong Un is "very open" and "very honourable," and he hoped that Washington could deal with Pyongyang in an "honorable fashion".

In a press briefing, Sanders said North Korea has "been open with their willingness to denuclearize," Xinhua reported.

"They're moving in the right direction," she said, adding Trump "wants to have the ability to sit down and have these conversations" with the Korean side.

She reiterated that the United States will not let up on the maximum pressure campaign against Pyongyang "until we see some of the words that they've made go into concrete action."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet with Kim Friday. Trump said his meeting with Kim may happen in May or early June.