U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has warned that if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, it would be a disastrous move for the communist state.

Rice told reporters after the UN Security Council wrapped up a meeting on Monday that the North has the precedent of conducting nuclear tests after launching rockets.

The ambassador said “the potential for that pattern to persist is one that all members of the international community are mindful of and think would be a disastrous course for the North to pursue.”

Rice stressed that nuclear tests “will only lead to the North's increased isolation."

The North conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009 shortly after missile tests. During those two occasions, the Security Council responded swiftly by imposing sanctions on the communist state.