WASHINGTON - The United States on Wednesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to refrain from further provocations amid reports of an imminent missile launch by the Asian nation.

State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Washington was monitoring the situation and coordinating "closely" with its allies and partners.

"As we've said many times before, a ballistic missile launch would be a clear violation of North Korea's obligations under numerous (UN) Security Council resolutions," he told reporters at a regular news briefing.

"It would only further isolate DPRK, undermine its goal of economic development," he added. "So we urge the DPRK to refrain from taking further provocative actions."

Citing intelligence, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said on Wednesday that it is highly likely that the DPRK would launch a mid-range missile "at any time from now on."

Ventrell said the US was taking "a range of prudent measures, " including missile defense, to defend itself and allies against threats posed by the DPRK.

Tensions have been heightened on the Korean Peninsula since the DPRK conducted its third nuclear test on February 12 in protest against joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.

The DPRK has declared "a state of war" with the South and threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear strike for self-defense.

The country on Tuesday urged all foreign organizations, companies and tourists in the South to evacuate in case of war, saying the DPRK "does not want to see foreigners in South Korea fall victim to the war" as the situation on the peninsula "is inching close to a thermonuclear war."

"We don't have a recommendation for American citizens to take any particular precautions at this time," Ventrell said.

【新闻快讯】

据中新网援引韩国国际广播之声报道，韩国军方11日表示，朝鲜虽然已做好发射导弹的准备，但目前尚未发现有任何动静。韩国军方称，部署在日本海元山一带的“舞水端”导弹已注入了液体燃料，只待发射。朝鲜有可能同时发射几种不同类型的导弹。

当地时间2013年4月6日，朝鲜中央电视台公开短程地对空导弹系统画面。朝鲜导弹“箭在弦上”引起多方猜测，韩国、美国、日本纷纷提高警戒态势或进入严防模式，紧张应对一切不测事态。

虽然有拦截朝鲜导弹的能力，但美国军方仍对此持保守态度。美军太平洋司令部司令洛克利尔9日在参议院表示，如果朝鲜发射导弹威胁到美国本土、海外部队与盟友，他建议将其拦截，但不建议不问“青红皂白”拦截朝方导弹。

然而，尽管朝鲜称半岛局势已经处于“一触即发”之际，朝鲜国内的局势却与韩美日的“戒备”形成鲜明对照，首都平壤气氛祥和，多地都在为已故领导人金日成诞辰日的到来做准备。