The head of the U.S. military's Pacific Command on Wednesday urged Russia and China to step up efforts in reining in North Korea and persuade the reclusive state to halt its nuclear weapons program and related provocations.

"The dangerous behavior by North Korea is not just a threat to the Korean Peninsula," Adm. Harry Harris said at an event in Tokyo, referring to Pyongyang's latest test launch of a new ballistic missile on Sunday.

"It's a threat to Japan. It's a threat to China. It's a threat to Russia. Let me say that again, it's a threat to Russia," Harris said.