The U.S. government is cautiously reviewing reports that North Korea is planning to throw out its planned economy and seek economic reform through active use of the market.

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that Washington wants the North to carry out reforms that meet its obligations to the international community and the North Korean people’s needs.

The U.S. government is reportedly closely watching the effects that the North’s apparent efforts to improve its economy would have on the chronic food shortage there. It is also trying to gain insight on the future direction the communist state plans to take.