The United States has urged North Korea to avoid issuing “bellicose rhetoric” following Tuesday’s inter-Korean naval skirmish in the Yellow Sea.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters Friday that the U.S. is calling on North Korea to refrain from bellicose rhetoric and, in general, to avoid provocative actions that would further inflame tensions in the region.

Kelly’s remarks came after Pyongyang warned in a message to the South’s military that it would take “merciless military measures” to protect its border.

Asked whether Washington believes the North’s provocation has something to do with President Barack Obama’s visit to Seoul next week, Kelly said he would not try to characterize the North’s remarks and would not try to connect what Pyongyang is doing with any other events in the region.

Kelly only said that the U.S. is working towards a resumption of a multilateral forum that would lead to an easing of tensions in the region.