U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to drop its planned satellite launch, terming the move as a threat to regional security.

"I would just underscore that if North Korea wants a peaceful, better future for their people, it should not conduct another launch that would be a direct threat to regional security," she told reporters after meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba.

"We are consulting closely in capitals and at the United Nations in New York and we will be pursuing appropriate action," she said.

Echoing Clinton's remarks, Gemba also said that the appropriate action should be taken, without specifying what that might be.

The DPRK last month announced its plan to launch an "earth observation" satellite between April 12 and 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of DPRK founder Kim Il Sung. The upcoming launch has triggered global concerns.

Earlier the day, White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the planned "missile launch" by the DPRK would violate its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 which prohibit Pyongyang from conducting launches that use ballistic missile technology.

He also said that it is impossible for Washington to provide Pyongyang with food aid if it goes ahead with the launch.

However, Ryu Gum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department from DPRK's Korean Committee for Space Technology said in Pyongyang on Tuesday that the scheduled launch of a satellite will not harm the region and neighboring countries.

The official dismissed accusation that the launch is a cover for missile test, saying the 91-ton three-stage rocket does not have the same "attack power" as a ballistic missile.