North Korea says it will increase military defenses, including its nuclear deterrent, to counter what Pyongyang says is a U.S. bid to topple the government.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman Monday denounced Washington for carrying on what he called an anti-North Korea human-rights offensive.

The spokesman's statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency says the offensive is part of Washington's plan to topple the communist regime.

North Korea has stepped up its verbal attack on the United States since the United Nations adopted a resolution last month expressing serious concern about Pyongyang's human-rights record.

The North has said it will not return to six-nation talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program until Washington lifts economic sanctions against North Korea.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.