North Korea says it test-fired 4 missiles a day after the U.S. held defense drills

This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says is a launching drill of a cruise missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on early Thursday. (AP)

SEOUL — North Korea says it test-launched four nuclear-capable cruise missiles, its first cruise missile test since November. The launch comes a day after the U.S. and South Korea held tabletop exercises simulating a North Korean nuclear attack.

The Korean Central News Agency said the four strategic cruise missiles each flew about 1,200 miles to the east, in elliptical and figure-8-shaped trajectories, before hitting targets in the sea.