The United States on Tuesday warned against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying "intimidation and threats" are hurting efforts to bring stability to the Korean peninsula.

Urging the DPRK to focus on its commitments to international negotiators working for the settlement of nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula, State Department spokesman Robert Wood said that "intimidation and threats are not helpful to try to bring about regional stability."

UN Security Council resolutions prohibit the DPRK from engaging in ballistic missiles activities, Wood added.

Pyongyang, accusing the United States and South Korea of building arms around the DPRK, warned on Thursday that an inter-Korean conflict may break out at any moment, saying the army of the DPRK was fully ready for "an all-out confrontation" with South Korea.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2009)