Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump will pursue the "complete denuclearization of North Korea," a White House official stated Tuesday. This announcement comes amid speculation over whether Trump's recent mention of North Korea as a "nuclear power" signifies any change in policy.

According to Yonhap News Agency, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes made these remarks following reports from North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that leader Kim Jong-un visited a nuclear-material production base and a nuclear weapons institute. These visits appear to underscore North Korea's military capabilities.

"President Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, just as he did in his first term," Hughes told Yonhap News Agency. He emphasized Trump's previous relationship with Kim Jong Un, highlighting that a combination of firmness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization.

Hughes referenced the agreement made during the 2018 summit in Singapore between Trump and Kim, where both parties agreed to work towards the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula and establish new bilateral relations.

Earlier, a U.S. government official confirmed that there had been no changes in the United States' policy towards North Korea. "There has not been any change of policy regarding the DPRK," the official stated to Yonhap News Agency under anonymity. The DPRK represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Last week, Trump referred to North Korea as a nuclear power, a term generally avoided by U.S. officials as it could imply recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also described North Korea as a nuclear power during his confirmation hearing this month.

In what might be an attempt to strengthen its position before possible negotiations with the U.S., KCNA reported Kim's visits to nuclear program sites, where he urged the "overfulfilling the plan for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials and strengthening the country's nuclear shield."

During a recent interview with Fox News, Trump expressed his intention to reach out to Kim again, describing Kim as a "smart guy" and "not a religious zealot." This description suggests Trump sees Kim as a leader he could engage with for future discussions.