US and South Korean troops will begin their annual joint military drills next Monday -- a move that is likely to draw an angry response from North Korea.

The exercises, called Freedom Shield, involve a range of simulated emergencies on the Korean Peninsula, and are designed to bolster both countries' defenses against Pyongyang's increasing nuclear threats.

Military officials from the US and South Korea said Wednesday the drills will run from March 4 through 14, and will comprise 48 field training exercises on land, at sea, and in the air.

The public affairs director of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the operation will enhance interoperability of the two militaries.

The drills come at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently described South Korea as the "principal enemy," and said that in the event of a war, his country would occupy and annex South Korean territory.

During last year's exercises, Pyongyang reacted by launching an ICBM-class Hwasong-17 missile and some short-range ballistic missiles.

The US and South Korean militaries are on the alert for test-launches of missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.