WASHINGTON, Jumada I 24, 1437, March 04, 2016, SPA -- The U.S. Defense Department on Thursday responded to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's order for his country to be ready to use nuclear weapons "at any time" by saying that Pyongyang should "refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions," according to Reuters "We are aware of the reports, and are closely monitoring the situation on the Korean Peninsula in coordination with our regional allies," said Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman. "We urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments," he added. --SPA 02:59 LOCAL TIME 23:59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w