This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 28, shows the North's firing of a strategic cruise missile in a launching drill overseen by its leader Kim Jong-un on Feb. 26. Yonhap

North Korea said Friday it launched strategic cruise missiles in waters off its west coast earlier this week, with its leader Kim Jong-un calling for thorough war preparedness with the country's nuclear forces and readiness for their use.

A missile unit of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in western areas conducted the launch drills Wednesday morning, overseen by Kim, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The exercise was aimed at informing the country's enemies of the KPA's counterattack capability in any space, as well as the readiness of its various nuclear operation means, and demonstrating the reliability of the North's nuclear deterrence, according to the report.

The North's leader called for permanently defending the country's sovereign right and security with the "reliable nuclear shield."

"What is guaranteed by powerful striking ability is the most perfect deterrence and defense capacity," Kim said, stressing North Korea should strive for "more thorough battle readiness of nuclear force and full preparedness for their use."

The missiles precisely hit the targets after traveling on a 1,587-kilometer-long oval trajectory for 7,961-7,973 seconds, the KCNA said.

North Korea's reference to "strategic" weapons suggests that they could have nuclear capabilities.

South Korea's military confirmed the missile firing, noting it had detected the launches of multiple cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea at about 8 a.m. Wednesday, and they were being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.

"Our military is closely monitoring various North Korean activities under the firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture so that North Korea does not misjudge the current security situation," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message sent to reporters.

The latest launch marked the North's first firing of cruise missiles since Jan. 25. North Korea test-fired what it called sea-to-surface strategic cruise guided missiles at that time, marking its first missile launch since U.S. President Donald Trump took office last month.

It also took place ahead of a major springtime military exercise between South Korea and the United States, named Freedom Shield, set to kick off next month.

Pyongyang has long denounced the allies' joint military drills as a rehearsal for an invasion. Seoul and Washington have said their military exercises are defensive in nature. (Yonhap)