The U.S. Defense Department says no specific movements have been detected from North Korea following its fresh threat against South Korea.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby told reporters on Monday that he’s not aware of “any specific actions taken to bolster the rhetoric.”

His remark came shortly after the North threatened that its military will soon launch special action to crush what it called the “reckless provocations of traitors” in South Korea.

At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney said during a news briefing that the North is “known for engaging in provocations in a series," and added that he “wouldn't rule out provocative behavior by the North Korean regime." He then quickly added that there is no need to particularly respond to the North's threats.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that the North’s new leadership is putting its energy into the wrong places.