WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the United States is trying to "keep a door open" for North Korea to return to international nuclear disarmament talks, even as Washington pursues sanctions against the North.

Obama told The Associated Press on Thursday that there could be more sanctions in store for the North for its May nuclear test.

Obama says the implementation of U.N. sanctions meant to punish the North is "going very well."

But he says the North abandoning its nuclear weapons programs is the only way Pyongyang is going to improve its economy and join the world community. He says the United States wants Pyongyang "to know that path is still available."

North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles Thursday.