The United States on Saturday reiterated its call for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not to "aggravate tensions" hours after the latter fired another seven missiles off its eastern coast.

In response to the latest missile tests, U.S. State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth told the local media that "this type of North Korean (DPRK) behavior is not helpful."

"North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearization talks and the implementation of its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," he said.

The DPRK fired seven short-range missiles on Saturday, two days after Pyongyang reportedly test-fired four similar missiles.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday described the DPRK's actions as "not helpful and dangerous."

U.S. President Barack Obama said on the same day that his administration was trying to "keep the door open" for the DPRK's return to the six-party talks, designed to settle the nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula.

The talks involve the DPRK, the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. The first round was held in Beijing, China in August 2003.

However, the talks have been suspended since December 2008 due to sharp differences between the United States and the DPRK over verification of disabled nuclear facilities.

It was noted that the latest missile tests by the DPRK have occurred as Americans celebrate Independence Day, which falls on July 4.

In his weekly address, President Obama said the United States was facing a great number of challenges.

"We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession ... spiraling health care costs, inadequate schools, and dependence on foreign oil," Obama said.

"We must remember and renew the American Spirit as we confront and meet our current challenges," he said.

"Meeting these extraordinary challenges will require an extraordinary effort on the part of every American, and that is an effort we cannot defer any longer," he noted.

Source: Xinhua