Washington (CNN) -- Recent announcements of American military deployments in response to belligerent statements by North Korea may have contributed to escalating tensions between the two countries, Pentagon officials told CNN on Thursday in explaining an effort to reduce U.S. rhetoric about the reclusive state. "We accused the North Koreans of amping things up, now we are worried we did the same thing," one Defense Department official said. They spoke on the same day a U.S. official first told CNN that communications intercepts indicated North Korea may be planning to launch a mobile ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.
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FIRST ON CNN: Communications intercepts suggest possibility of North Korea missile launch
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North Korea moves up to two missiles to its East coast, U.S. official says
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State Department focuses on diplomacy in discussing North Korea
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North Korea issues more threats, but said to lack missile technology to strike U.S. mainland
"The @placeholder -- even before those exercises started -- had undertaken provocative steps, and they've conducted underground nuclear tests, they've conducted missile tests outside their international obligations.