White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki gestures as she speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 12. AFP-Yonhap

The United States has no immediate plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea but supports international efforts to help vaccinate the people of the reclusive country, a White House spokesperson said Thursday.

Jen Psaki, however, accused Pyongyang of exploiting its people by denying or diverting international assistance to pursue unlawful weapons programs.

"The United States does not currently have plans to share vaccines with the DPRK," the White House press secretary said when asked if the U.S. had plans to provide North Korea with COVID-19 vaccines.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.