WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States was preparing new sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) if Pyongyang takes steps that warrant new sanctions.

The United States is "preparing additional sanctions" if it turns out that the DPRK's future actions merit additional sanctions, Tillerson said here in a speech to State Department employees.

Tillerson also said that the United States was ready to engage in talks with the DPRK "when conditions are right," adding that Washington was sending a "very, very clear and resolute" message to the DPRK that the country's security and economic prosperity "can only be secured" through commitment to denuclearization.

Tillerson also reaffirmed that the United States was not seeking regime change in the DPRK.

Tension has remained very high over the past two months between the United States and the DPRK over the former's threat to stage military attack upon Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programs.

The United States and South Korea also held their largest ever joint military exercises in the past two months, while the USS Carl Vinson nuclear aircraft carrier task group has arrived in the waters off the peninsula for joint drills with the South Korean military.