The United States says it is stepping up diplomatic efforts to get North Korea to reverse its decision to launch a rocket.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters that North Korea's planned rocket launch is a matter of great concern to not just the United States, but other countries.

He added that any such launch by North Korea would be a provocative act and a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 17-18.

Wood said the North needs to refrain from carrying out this type of provocation, sit down with the members of the six-way nuclear talks and work on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Wood said related diplomatic measures are currently under way.

Meanwhile, the White House said President Barack Obama warned of the risks posed by North Korea's plans and pledged to work with China to dismantle the Stalinist state's nuclear program.

Obama made the statement after holding talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday.