The U.S. State Department says a communication channel between the U.S. and North Korea remains open.

State Department Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell told reporters on Wednesday that Washington has a way of communicating with the North and a channel still in place to do so.

He made the remark after being asked to comment on Pyongyang cutting its last military hotline with Seoul.

Ventrell said the U.S. thinks the North’s latest “threat to cut off communication links coupled with its provocative rhetoric is not constructive to ensuring peace and stability on the peninsula.” He also urged the North to come into compliance with the September 19th Joint Statement and its international obligations.

Ventrell was apparently referring to the so-called New York channel between U.S. Special Envoy to the Six-Party Talks Clifford Hart and North Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Han Song-ryol.