WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- Amid growing worries that North Korea may soon carry out a nuclear test or launch attacks on South Korea, the U.S. urged Pyongyang Tuesday to use its energy and resources instead to improve the livelihood of its people.

"We strongly suggest that the North Koreans refrain from engaging in any other -- any more hostile or provocative actions," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

He reiterated Washington's concern for the North's people in need.

The North Korean leadership does "nothing to help the North Korean people, many of whom are starving because of the predilection of the North Korean regime to spend the money it has on weapons systems rather than food and economic development," added Carney.

Media reports based on unidentified intelligence sources suggest that the North may have almost completed preparations for another underground nuclear experiment.

It has also threatened to carry out "special military actions" against the South.

"No launching, no testing, no nothing if you want to have a better relationship with the international community," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing. "All of these are provocations. All of them take the DPRK in the wrong direction."

The DPRK is the acronym for the communist nation's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

She emphasized that Washington has lost trust in Pyongyang's commitment to dialogue, especially since its rocket launch in April.

"Unfortunately, now we're going backwards," she said. "So it's really up to the DPRK to demonstrate that it wants a better relationship with all of us and that it wants to put its energy into peace and stability and taking care of its people, rather than expensive weapons."