US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Photo: AP)

Addressing a press conference after meeting South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in Washington, Blinken warned Pyongyang not to conduct what would be the seventh nuclear test in its history, saying the US has prepared its response in coordination with its allies and partners, principally South Korea and Japan.

A nuclear test would be dangerous and deeply destabilizing to the region, Blinken said, adding that it would violate international law set out in multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Park said any provocations, including a nuclear test, would be met with a "united and firm response."