A senior defense official says the U.S. will have to completely reconsider its policies on North Korea if Pyongyang launches a long-range rocket next month.

The nominee for U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, James Miller, made the remark in a confirmation hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. He currently serves as the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.

Miller said he believes if North Korea pushes forward with the rocket launch, the U.S. won't fulfill its obligations under an agreement reached in late February with the North, including the provision of food aid.

The defense official was apparently reaffirming U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Peter Lavoy’s statement that the U.S. suspended a plan to provide food aid to North Korea as Pyongyang is preparing to launch a long-range rocket.

In a written statement he submitted ahead of the Senate hearing, Miller said the North's missile and weapons of mass destruction programs pose a "direct and serious threat" to U.S. regional allies and partners. He added that those programs also have the "potential to become a direct threat to U.S. territory,” and stressed the need to closely watch North Korea.