Washington has warned Pyongyang against conducting one more nuclear test, a top US official was quoted Thursday as saying by South Korea's official Yonhap news agency.
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told mediapersons in Washington that North Korea must stop its provocative actions and the attempts.
"Our message to North Korea has been clear and consistent. It needs to cease its provocative actions. I can think of nothing more provocative than the possibility of another nuclear test or another series of missile-firings," he said at the Foreign Press Club
His remarks came amidst reports that preparations were underway at the site where North Korea previously conducted its nuclear tests.
Pyongyang conducted its first nuclear test in October 2006 and the second one in May 2007 at Punggye-ri in North Hamgyong province.
Crowley called upon North Korea to "take steps to reduce tensions and cease its provocative behavior" and "fulfill the responsibilities under the 2005 joint statement."
"We all want to see talks resume. We don't want to talk for just talks. There are things North Korea has to do that would convince us further dialogue with it will be constructive. On that score, we all have our own views. We share those views."
The six-party--South Korea, Japan, the U.S., Germany, China and Russia--agreement requires North Korea to fulfill its nuclear obligations as a responsible state in exchange for massive financial aid as well as the signing of a peace treaty to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
Since April 2009, the talks were deadlocked after Pyongyang walked out over UN sanctions for carrying out nuclear and missile tests.
Political analysts say the move by the North to press ahead with one more nuclear test could well be a ploy to get its 1.2 million-strong military to back the anointing of Kim Jong-un--the youngest son of its "dear leader," Kim Jong Il--as the "heir apparent".
Besides, considerable significance is being attributed to last month's decision by Kim Jong Il to appoint Jong-un as the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party.
The Korean Peninsula has been gripped by tension following the March 26 sinking of a South Korean Navy vessel "MS Cheonan" in the waters of the Yellow Sea near the maritime border between the two Koreas.
A multinational probe, ordered in its wake, blamed North Korea for torpedoing the corvette which resulted in the deaths of 46 young South Korean sailors.
However, Pyongyang accuses Seoul of influencing the outcome of the investigation.
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December 12, 2025 15:14 ET Central bank decisions dominated the economic news flow this week led by the Federal Reserve. Trade data from the U.S. also gained attention. The Canadian and Swiss central banks also announced their interest rate decisions. Inflation data from China was in focus as the country released the latest consumer price and producer price data.