"President Trump has held two historic summits with North Korea and earlier this year became the first President to cross the DMZ into North Korea," the White House press release said, referring to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas.

"The Administration has maintained tough sanctions on North Korea while negotiations have taken place," it said.

North Korea has demanded relief from punishing sanctions as part of a deal on dismantling its nuclear program, but the US insists the North first take concrete steps toward denuclearization.

The impasse led to heightened tensions, with North Korea threatening to send an unwelcome "Christmas gift" to the US, which was widely interpreted as a possible intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The White House also said Trump provided a boost to American auto exports by renegotiating the Korea-US free trade agreement.

It said South Korea lifted its ban on American poultry and eggs, and agreed to provide market access for the "greatest, guaranteed volume" of American rice. (Yonhap)