WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The State Department on Monday continued to publicly downplay the threat North Korea presents to the United States with spokesman P.J . Crowley telling reporters North Korea `` represents an infinitesimal threat to the United States directly . '' A North Korean soldier looks at the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone earlier this month . The spokesman 's statement followed comments from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an interview with ABC , broadcast Monday , in which she said the reason for the United States ' low-key reaction to North Korea 's recent missile test was that the United States was n't `` going to give the North Koreans the satisfaction they were looking for , which was to elevate them to center stage . '' In that interview , Clinton said North Korea has a `` constant demand for attention , '' and she added , `` maybe it 's the mother in me , the experience I 've had with small children and teenagers and people who are demanding attention : Do n't give it to them . '' After calling the direct threat to the U.S. `` infinitesimal , '' Crowley went on to say that `` North Korea , and its provocative actions , does represent a significant threat to the region and its actions recently have been unhelpful and potentially destabilizing . '' A senior U.S. official , who did not want to be identified , said there is a `` theoretical '' question of whether a North Korean missile could hit the United States . `` There 's nothing in their recent development , '' he said , `` which would suggest that their technology is becoming more accurate . '' The United States says its primary concerns about North Korea 's actions are its impact on security in the region and the risk of nuclear proliferation . Last week the United Nations imposed sanctions on a number of individuals , companies and goods connected with North Korea 's nuclear and missile programs . Taking aim at several key North Korean officials , it subjected them to a freeze on their assets and an international travel ban .
State Department spokesman : Recent actions `` potentially destabilizing '' to region . Secretary of State Clinton : North Korea has `` constant demand for attention '' That is why U.S. had low-key reaction to missile tests , Clinton says .