The United States called on North Korea Monday to stop “provocative” and “unproductive” steps and return to dialogue after Pyongyang said it held a ceremony over the weekend for transferring 250 new tactical missile launchers to frontline military units.

Matthew Miller, the State Department’s spokesperson, made the call as the North’s Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that leader Kim Jong-un attended the ceremony for the transfer of the launchers, which it portrayed as “new pivotal attack” weapons.

“We would encourage North Korea to discontinue taking provocative and unproductive steps and return to the negotiating table,” he told a press briefing.

Concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats have persisted in the absence of no meaningful diplomacy to at least curb those threats despite Washington’s repeated overtures to meet with the North without preconditions.

Asked about the possibility of Pyongyang conducting a nuclear test, Miller said that he did not have any assessment to com
ment on the matter.

Miller also expressed hope that humanitarian concerns involving North Korean people will be addressed following reports about heavy damage from recent downpours in the reclusive state.

Pyongyang has expressed gratitude for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer of assistance to recover from what was left in the wake of the torrential rains, while remaining unresponsive to Seoul’s proposal for humanitarian aid.

“Obviously, our thoughts are always with the people of North Korea as they are with the people of any country around the world when they suffer humanitarian disaster,” he said.

“Whatever differences we have with any government, those are not differences with the people of that country. So we would hope to see the humanitarian needs of the North Korean people addressed.”

The North’s border city of Sinuiju and Uiju County in North Phyongan Province were recently pummeled by heavy rains. South Korean media outlets have reported that the number of those who died or went missing co
uld exceed 1,000.

Source: Yonhap News Agency