The U.S. government has urged North Korea to abide by its international obligations as reports surface that it completed a key step in building a light water reactor at its nuclear complex in Yongbyon.

State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Wednesday that what Washington has seen in the media doesn't change its view that “North Korea has a choice to make.” Nuland continued that the U.S. wants to see North Korea's new leader "come back into compliance" and return to the six-way nuclear talks "ready to deal with the international community’s concerns."

The department’s remarks come after British military magazine 'Jane's Defence Weekly' said North Korea put a dome on its light water reactor, a key step towards completing a plant that could be used for its nuclear weapons program. The weekly made the assessment after examining satellite images taken on August sixth.