A senior North Korean diplomat who handles the reclusive country's US affairs said on Saturday Pyongyang would have dialogue with the US administration if conditions are right, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Choe Son Hui, who is the North's foreign ministry director general for US affairs, made the comment to reporters in Beijing as she was travelling from Norway back to North Korea, Yonhap said.

The comments by Choe, who is a veteran member of the North's team of nuclear negotiators, came amid international efforts to ease tension over North Korea's pursuit of nuclear arms.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if the circumstances were right.

"If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him, I would absolutely, I would be honoured to do it," Trump told Bloomberg News. "If it's under the, again, under the right circumstances. But I would do that."

"Most political people would never say that," Trump said, "but I'm telling you under the right circumstances I would meet with him. We have breaking news."

Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously told Donald Trump talks were the only way to ease concerns over North Korea.

All nations involved "should settle their disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultation to be jointly committed to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," state broadcaster China Central Television quoted Xi as saying.