The White House official has said there are no plans to urge the UN to impose an oil embargo on North Korea.
It comes in response to rising tensions between the Far Eastern country and the West, with recent missile launches adding further fuel to the political fire.
But a US official confirmed last night that Washington had no plans to call for the Security Council place the sanction on Kim Jong-un’s state.
The UN Security Council planned to discuss North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch.
The US has suggested the 15-member council agree a statement condemning the launch.