The U.S. said it supports humanitarian efforts to help the North Korean people after a report that the U.N. pointman on DPRK human rights will suggest the possibility of easing sanctions to improve conditions in the country.

But Washington reiterated that Pyongyang is primarily responsible for the poor human rights situation in the country and the “suffering” of its people.

“The regime continues to exploit its own citizens, to violate their human rights, to divert resources from the country’s people to build up its unlawful [weapons of mass destruction] and ballistic missiles program,” saidU.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price