Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof

Circuit around the invention for carrying out the semiconductor memory device has a program pulse and verify operations on the memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, the memory cell array as a semiconductor memory device and method of operation thereof, pass / fail check circuit for outputting a pass / fail signal in accordance with the result of the verify operation, and but controls the peripheral circuit to perform the application operation and the verify operation the program pulses, at least two when applied to the program pulse operation program pulse is applied successively, wherein the verification operation comprises a control logic that controls the peripheral circuit to be performed by the first and second verify operation continuously.