Just when political analysts and international relations professionals thought the Korean peninsula might go a month without an incident, up pops the devil.

North Korea's recent actions, which include firing artillery rounds into South Korean waters, are "dangerous and provocative," and the country's threats and provocations only isolate it further, a White House official said on Monday, Reuters reported.

"We remain steadfast in our commitment [to] the defense of our allies and remain in close coordination with both the Republic of Korea and Japan," White House National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Alley said.

Japan South Korea