The commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, General Walter Sharp, says the U.S. is "watching North Korea very, very carefully, and all actions that they do" in reference to reports that the North may pursue a third nuclear test.

He made the remark during an annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army held Wednesday in Washington.

The commander called on North Korea to stop all nuclear and ballistic-missile development and to abide by the stipulations laid out by United Nations resolutions.

In an earlier interview with the Pentagon Channel, Sharp said a joint maritime military exercise with South Korea that has been delayed will take place soon in the Yellow Sea near the Korean Peninsula.