Story highlights Joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises are underway

Bellicose words are typical of North Korea this time of year

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are even higher than normal after recent action at the United Nations

(CNN) North Korea warned it would make a "preemptive and offensive nuclear strike" in response to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that began Monday.

The news was announced in a statement by the National Defense Commission of North Korea and published in the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"As the joint military exercises to be staged by the enemies are regarded as the most undisguised nuclear war drills aimed to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK, its military counteraction will be more preemptive and offensive nuclear strike to cope with them," the statement read.

The United States responded with a call for caution.