U.S. Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea Jay Lefkowitz, in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute, said South Korea and China were too lenient regarding North Korea and its efforts to dismantle nuclear weapons program.

"(Jay) is the envoy for issues related to human rights in North Korea," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday during a news briefing. "He is not however somebody who speaks authoritatively about the six-party talks."

McCormack said the United States believes the six-party talks provides "a forum, a mechanism and an opportunity to realize the goal of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula."

The spokesman wouldn't discuss whether Lefkowitz was disciplined, saying only, "He's still the envoy."