Washington’s new Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday said North Korea’s recent missile tests are a concern, though added that the U.S. would not overreact to launches.

Speaking at a Department of Defense press conference with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford, Esper said that a political agreement is the “best” way to achieve the DPRK’s denuclearization.

“Obviously, we are concerned about the short-range ballistic missile tests. We want to understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” Esper told assembled reporters at the Pentagon.

“But on the other hand, we aren’t going to overreact. We