Tillerson outlines prospect of US peace talks with Taliban

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne said there was no plan to raise Australian troop levels in Afghanistan, but she would speak to the US.

US President Donald Trump's administration has cautiously raised the prospect of peace talks with traditional foes North Korea and the Taliban.

At a press conference on Tuesday US Secretary of State Rex offered more details on Mr Trump's new strategy for Afghanistan, including potential talks with the Taliban.

"We already know there are certain moderate elements of the Taliban who we think are going to be ready and want to help a way forward," Mr Tillerson said.

Mr Trump, in a live primetime TV broadcast on Monday, reneged on previous vows to pull US forces from Afghanistan.

The president said American troops would remain in the war-torn nation alongside Australia and other allies.

Mr Tillerson said going forward other nations, not so much US tax payers, would be funding the construction of schools and infrastructure in Afghanistan.

Mr Trump refused to say on Monday if he had agreed to raise the number of US troops in Afghanistan, although media reports said he had signed off on raising the American deployment by 4000.

Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne said there was no plan to raise Australian troop levels in Afghanistan, but she will "speak with our US colleagues and see what their expectations are".

Mr Tillerson backed the president's strategy of not publicly announcing US troop levels or specific strategies to battle the Taliban.

American forces will advise the Afghan military on the ground and call in support in battles.

"The only way we can defeat an enemy that is as nimble and as cagey tactically as this enemy we have is to be as cagey and tactical as they are and we have not been fighting that way," Mr Tillerson said.

Mr Tillerson also offered rare praise on Tuesday for North Korea for not firing missiles or engaging in provocative acts since the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to impose punishing new sanctions on the rogue regime earlier this month.

"We hope that this is the beginning of this signal we have been looking for - that they are ready to restrain their level of tensions, they are ready to restrain their provocative acts and perhaps we are seeing our pathway to some kind of near future to having some dialogue," Mr Tillerson said.

"We need to see more on their part, but I want to acknowledge the steps they have taken so far."