North Korea is threatening to carry out a nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches, aimed at striking the United States.

Leaders in North Korea made the warning Thursday they plan to conduct warhead tests. The announcement comes after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning North Korea's rocket launch from last year.

On Tuesday, the UN also expanded sanctions against North Korea.Now, North Korea's National Defense commission is pledging to keep launching satellites and rockets and to conduct a nuclear test as part of a "new phase" of combat with the United States.

The commission released the following statement:

"We do not hide that a variety of satellites and long-range rockets which will be launched by the DPRK one after another and a nuclear test of higher level which will be carried out by it in the upcoming all-out action, a new phase of the anti-U.S. struggle that has lasted century after century, will target against the U.S., the sworn enemy of the Korean people."

The commission went on to say, "Settling accounts with the U.S. needs to be done with force, not with words."

The U.S. State Department has not issued a response to the threat yet.