The U.S. government says it is still evaluating on whether to provide food aid to North Korea.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said in a daily briefing Friday that the findings of a team sent to assess the food situation in the North are still under review.

Toner added that any situation involving hunger is urgent and concerning.

He also said he's not aware of the State Department having any hand in the opening of an AP news bureau in Pyongyang.