The United States on Friday criticized North Korea's threats of a "physical response" to US-South Korea war games, urging the communist state not to increase tensions."It would be unwise," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said of the threatened North Korean response.
"North Korea would be better served by reflecting on the current situation, not taking any further aggressive actions or provocative steps," Crowley told reporters.
North Korea made the threat during regional security talks in Vietnam, where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton renewed US calls on Pyongyang to return to past international agreements to give up its nuclear program.
"If that happens, then diplomatic opportunities could potentially open up," Crowley said. "But we certainly don't think it would be fruitful for North Korea to increase tensions in the region at this point."
Ri Tong Il, spokesman for the North Korean delegation at the Hanoi talks, warned of a "physical response" to steps by the United States, which he accused of "gunboat diplomacy."
"North Korea would be better served by reflecting on the current situation, not taking any further aggressive actions or provocative steps," Crowley told reporters.
North Korea made the threat during regional security talks in Vietnam, where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton renewed US calls on Pyongyang to return to past international agreements to give up its nuclear program.
"If that happens, then diplomatic opportunities could potentially open up," Crowley said. "But we certainly don't think it would be fruitful for North Korea to increase tensions in the region at this point."
Ri Tong Il, spokesman for the North Korean delegation at the Hanoi talks, warned of a "physical response" to steps by the United States, which he accused of "gunboat diplomacy."
