The South Korean Navy and Air Force on Thursday conducted a joint firing exercise in the country's waters off its east coast in a bid to boost their capacity to hit North Korean warships with guided missiles, military officials said.

The drill involved South Korea's warships and planes' conducting attacks on imaginary North Korean naval corvettes, according to officials.

"The drill helped us strengthen the war fighting capabilities of the Navy and Air Force to conduct joint military missions and to counter the enemy's maritime provocations," a Navy official said.

The exercise involved military assets, including the Aegis destroyer, about 10 warships and maritime patrol aircraft, the source added.

Speculation has risen that North Korea could conduct its fifth nuclear and launch ballistic missiles at any time.

The reclusive country detonated a nuclear device in January and fired off a long range missile the following month that fueled tensions on the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)