WASHINGTON -- White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday threw cold water on former President Jimmy Carter's offer to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on behalf of the U.S.

"That's not part of our current plan or thinking for how to deal with North Korea," Sanders told reporters.

"If that changes, we'll certainly let you know," she added.

Word of Carter's offer came earlier this month via retired University of Georgia Professor Park Han-shik, according to the newspaper Korea JoongAn Daily.

Carter has been critical of the recent escalating rhetoric between U.S. and North Korea, saying in a recent statement that both sides should tone it down and engage in peace talks.

Read more: Jimmy Carter presses U.S., North Korea to tone down escalating rhetoric