Even as new resolutions increasing sanctions against the North Korean government are being scheduled, North Korea is threatening to set aside the 1953 truce agreement between North and South Korean and resume hostilities.

The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s Worker’s Party newspaper said on Wednesday that the North Korean government would be compelled to take action if the South and the United States follow through with their scheduled military games this month. The paper said that the games are just a cover for a “preemptive nuclear strike” against the North Korean government.

The supreme command of the North Korean army said that it would counter any American led operation with a “diversified precision nuclear strike means of Korean style.” It was further announced by the head of reconnaissance in North Korea that communications will be cut off and that the armistace will be nullified. Preparations could be seen in the North’s capital, where buses and trains are being covered in camouflage netting. North Korea is also gearing up for their military games with the commencement of submarine drills and other military preparations. Widespread drills are scheduled to begin next week.

Although the North routinely makes such statements and acts belligerently several times a year, making threats then backing away, the South Korean military is taking this newest series of threats seriously. It is generally believed that such statements made by the North Korean government are made for domestic consumption to maintain a sense of crisis amongst its population.

But, during a news conference, Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-hyun, a senior official at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, “If North Korea goes ahead with provocations and threatens the lives and safety of South Koreans, our military will strongly and sternly retaliate against the command and its supporting forces.”

The newest sanctions against North Korea, although the details have been unreleased, include increased mandatory inspections of all vessels entering or leaving North Korean waters, new travel restrictions and targetting of illicit bulk cash transactions. Vessels refusing the inspections will be denied access to the port, aircraft that deny inspection will not be allowed to unload or will be denied overflight of airspace of any country at the U.N. Security Council’s urging.