The United States has urged North Korea to refrain from engaging in provocations that aggravate tensions.
 
U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a news briefing on Thursday that the U.S. urges North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments.
 
Psaki’s remarks came after she was asked to comment on the North Korean shelling of a South Korean naval patrol boat in the Yellow Sea earlier in the day.
 
She said the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula in cooperation with its South Korean allies.
 
Psaki then called on the North to exercise restraint and take steps to improve its relations with its neighboring countries.