TOKYO, September 3. /TASS/. North Korea has conducted a missile launch exercise with a simulated tactical nuclear strike in response to a joint US-South Korean exercise, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

According to the agency, at dawn on September 2, two long-range strategic cruise missiles "with warheads imitating nuclear ones" were launched.

Pyongyang emphasizes that the level of "recklessness and dangerous confrontational frenzy displayed recently by the United States and bandits from the Republic of Korea has reached an unprecedented level."

The KCNA points out that the DPRK's nuclear forces will continue to comprehensively strengthen "combat readiness for countermeasures designed to deter war," as well as maintain peace and stability in the region.

This week, the military of the Republic of Korea and the United States conducted joint aviation maneuvers as part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, using live ordnance. About 30 aircraft took part in them.

In response to this the DPRK also conducted an exercise by units of the Korean People's Army to strike with tactical nuclear weapons, simulating the destruction of command posts and airfields on the territory of the Republic of Korea. As part of the exercises, two tactical ballistic missiles were launched from the territory of Pyongyang International Airport, which flew in a northeast direction and exploded in the air at an altitude of 400 meters above conditional targets, successfully hitting them.