The U.S. government has urged North Korea to halt provocations like another nuclear test and focus on taking care of its people.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters Tuesday that what North Korea “can and should do" is care for its people, open up, initiate reform, and demonstrate to the international community that it's ready to abide by its international obligations.

Nuland said it’s up to the North to show that it wants a better relationship with the international community and “that it wants to put its energy into peace and stability and taking care of its people rather than expensive weapons.”

The spokeswoman's remarks come as both the South Korean and U.S. governments are reportedly shifting the paradigm of their policies on North Korea to center on human rights issues rather than countering provocations.