He called on the two sides to start a dialogue.

The same day, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about North Korea’s increasingly confrontational statements.

North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported Thursday that Pyongyang will develop a plan by mid-August to launch four intermediate range missiles targeting the US territory of Guam and that leader Kim Jong Un will make the final decision.