The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a firing drill for a "simulated tactical nuclear attack" at dawn on Saturday, with two long-range strategic cruise missiles fired towards western waters during the drill, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.

The agency said the drill was carried out to "warn enemies" that the country would be prepared in case of nuclear war as Pyongyang again vowed to bolster military deterrence against Washington and Seoul.

The two cruise missiles carrying mock nuclear warheads were fired towards the western waters and flew 1,500 kilometers at a preset altitude of 150 meters.

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Joint Chiefs of Staff had detected the drill on Saturday, and the ROK government criticized it as an act of "hostility that threatens the peace on the Korean peninsula." 

The latest missile test in a series conducted by the DPRK in recent weeks came just after joint annual summertime exercises between the ROK and the U.S., known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, ended on Thursday after an 11-day run, featuring air drills with B-1B bombers.

(With input from Reuters)

(Cover: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fires cruise missiles, September 2, 2023. /CFP)