North Korea's coming satellite launch and the possibility of a nuclear test would both be a "blatant violation" of North Korea's international obligations, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations told CNN's John King in an interview on Monday.

"We have taken the view that these are highly provocative steps," Ambassador Susan Rice said in the interview airing at 6pET on CNN's "John King, USA." "They have nothing to gain and only further isolation to anticipate should they go ahead with this."

Rice said the U.S. is urging China to make sure that message is received in Pyongyang.

"Should they move beyond such a provocative step as a missile launch to a nuclear step, obviously their isolation will only increase," Rice added.

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