The U.S. says a third nuclear test by North Korea would be regarded as a provocative action.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner made the comment to reporters on Thursday, saying that he was aware of media reports about a possible new nuclear test by the North but that he couldn't comment on them because they "touch on intelligence matters."

But he did say that the reports haven’t changed Washington’s position vis-a-vis North Korea. He said the U.S. has said all along that "North Korea needs to adhere to its commitments and refrain from provocative actions and that another nuclear test would certainly fall under the rubric of provocative actions."