North Korea's threat to conduct a nuclear test in anger over a U.N. human rights resolution is a "cause of great concern," the State Department said Thursday, urging Pyongyang to take steps to give up its nuclear program.

The North's foreign ministry formally issued the nuclear threat earlier Thursday, saying the resolution compels the regime "not to exercise restraint any longer in conducting a new nuclear test" and vowing to strengthen its "war deterrence" against the United States.

It also accused the U.S. of orchestrating the resolution's passage.

The resolution, which passed through the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, calls for the North's referral to the International Criminal Court for human rights violations, and targeted sanctions for those most responsible.

"The fact that the DPRK (North Korea) would respond to the legitimate international interest in the human rights situation there by threatening to resume nuclear testing is something that is a cause of great concern," said Jeff Rathke, a State Department spokesman, at a regular briefing. "It only underscores that there is a necessity for North Korea to take steps, the steps that are called for under the 2005 Joint Statement, to come into compliance with the applicable Security Council resolutions through irreversible steps leading to denuclearization.”

The Joint Statement refers to a deal that commits the North to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for diplomatic recognition and other political and economic concessions. The agreement fell apart as Pyongyang backtracked on its commitment.

Rathke reiterated that the U.S. welcomes the resolution, saying it sends a clear message from the international community that the "egregious human rights record of the DPRK is noticed and taken seriously by the international community."

Even if the resolution passes through the General Assembly, there is virtually no chance of the North actually getting referred to the ICC because China and Russia, two of the five permanent Security Council members, are sure to veto such a proposal.

Russia reiterated its opposition to the resolution, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calling it "counterproductive."

Lavrov made the remark after talks with Choe Ryong-hae, a special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Rathke declined comment on Lavrov's reaction, only saying that Russia remains an important part of the international effort to deal with denuclearization in respect to North Korea. (Yonhap)