A series of statements by U.S. officials in recent days has appeared to soften Washington’s tone on North Korea, expressing a willingness to consider “interim steps” toward the goal of denuclearization.

But while this shift in language may be aimed at reining in growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, experts say it does not actually constitute a change in U.S. policy and is unlikely to convince Pyongyang to engage in diplomacy.

In remarksat an event on Monday, National Security Council spokesperson Mira Rapp-Hooper said Washington remains committed to denuclearization but that “there would have to be interim steps toward