North Korea said Monday that further economic and diplomatic pressure from the United States will only serve to help Pyongyang accelerate the pace of its nuclear arms development.

"The increased moves of the United States and its vassal forces to impose sanctions and pressure on (North Korea) will only increase our pace toward the ultimate completion of the state nuclear force," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

In a statement, carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency, the unnamed spokesman also slammed the U.S.-led sanctions campaign as the "most vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility to physically exterminate the people" of North Korea.