North Korea says it successfully test-fired two long-range cruise missiles capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons on Wednesday.

Korean Central Television reported on Thursday that leader Kim Jong Un was present as the missiles were fired toward the Yellow Sea, west of the Korean Peninsula.

The state-run media said the missiles flew for two hours, 50 minutes and 34 seconds in oval and figure-eight trajectories, and hit their targets 2,000 kilometers away.

North Korea launched a similar type of cruise missile in September 2021. In comparison, the missiles launched on Wednesday traveled 500 kilometers farther and flew 45 minutes longer.

It also said the missiles have been deployed to tactical nuclear operations units. The units test-fired ballistic missiles seven times over a 15-day period through Sunday.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Thursday that the missiles were fired at around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday from around Kaechon in South Phyongan Province in the west of North Korea.

It said it had not announced the launches earlier because it would reveal the military's surveillance capabilities.

Long-range cruise missiles are capable of flying at low altitudes over long periods of time, and are said to be difficult to detect by radar.

Development of this type of weapon was included in North Korea's five-year defense plan announced in January 2021.

Observers say the main targets of this type of missile include US military bases in Japan, representing a new threat.