WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- The Obama administration said on Friday that it will boost regional discussions following the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s execution of Jang Song-Thaek, the country's No. 2 man and uncle of leader Kim Jong Un.

"We're going to increase our discussions with our allies and partners in the region about the internal situation in North Korea, " State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters at a daily press briefing.

She called Jang's execution on Thursday "an incredibly brutal act" that indicated Pyongyang's "low regard for human life."

"Our emphasis going forward will be to deepen our collaboration with our regional allies, and our five-party partners as well," she said, referring to Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and China, countries that were involved in talks with the DPRK over the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

"Certainly, stability on the Korean Peninsula is very important to us," Harf added, urging Pyongyang not to take "provocative act" going forward "because it's not in the interest of regional stability."

Jang, 67, was executed immediately after the Special Military Tribunal convicted him of committing "unforgivable crime as traitor."

As vice chairman of the National Defense Commission and secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea administration department, he admitted at the trial that he had premeditated a coup against Kim.

Jang was stripped of all posts and titles for "anti-party and counter-revolutionary crime" by the party on Sunday.

"Our core policy on North Korea remains unchanged -- that we remain focused on the need for North Korea to denuclearize," Harf said.