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North Korea has threatened to conduct a nuclear test in response to a United Nations move towards a probe into the country's human rights violations, the BBC reported.

Its foreign ministry on Thursday accused the United States of orchestrating a recent UN resolution calling for the investigation.

North Korea previously conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

Its threat comes as new satellite images emerge indicating fresh activity at a North Korean nuclear facility.

A UN human rights committee on Tuesday passed a resolution calling on the Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

Pyongyang said the resolution was based on "fabricated testimonies" from North Korean defectors and "slander against Pyongyang."

The resolution's approval was a "grave political provocation" by the US and such "aggression is leaving us unable to further refrain from staging a new nuclear test."

It added that its military deterrence "will be beefed up limitlessly" to guard against the US.

A US State Department spokesman said in response: "It would certainly be unfortunate to threaten with that kind of activity in response to the legitimate focus on North Korea's human rights situation by the international community."