The United States called on North Korea on Saturday to refrain from taking actions that inflame tensions in the region after state media reported Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

A State Department official would not comment on the reported test but said launches using ballistic missile technology violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

"We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international commitments and obligations," the official said in an email.