North Korea said it conducted four tests of strategic cruise missiles in waters off its east coast yesterday, the Associated Press reported.

North Korea's official KCTA news agency said the four missiles flew for nearly three hours after being launched from a northeastern coastal region, drawing oval and octagonal shapes over the sea, and showed they could hit targets up to 2,000 kilometers away, BTA reported.

At the same time, the US and South Korea have been conducting joint exercises in Washington, aimed at providing a firmer response to Pyongyang's nuclear threats. 

The situation on the Korean Peninsula is currently very tense, DPA notes.

In the past few weeks, nuclear-armed North Korea has carried out a series of missile tests.

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles and warns it will turn the Pacific into a 'training ground'

Observers fear Pyongyang's first nuclear test in years is imminent.

On Saturday, North Korea tested a long-range missile that could theoretically reach the US territory.

It followed Monday's launch of two missiles that Japan and South Korea described as short-range ballistic missiles.

North Korea

rockets