North Korea Tests Cluster Bomb Warhead

North Korea has successfully tested a cluster bomb warhead. The test was conducted as part of ongoing military exercises aimed at equipping the country’s armed forces with long-range, highly destructive weaponry. This information was reported on Sunday (November 1), citing state media.

The test, which took place on Saturday, follows a series of tests of other advanced weapons by the nuclear-armed nation. These include attack drones, new precision-guided torpedoes, and medium-range hypersonic missiles.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the region following a landmine explosion along the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas, which left three South Korean soldiers injured. It is against this backdrop that Pyongyang has carried out this latest weapons test.

North Korea has denied any involvement in the landmine incident. Furthermore, the country has announced plans to bolster security along the border and initiate a counter-propaganda campaign using loudspeakers.

A report by North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, on Sunday stated that Saturday’s test was conducted to verify the effectiveness and operational capabilities of a cluster bomb warhead designed for use with tactical ballistic missiles.

Officials involved claim that the test demonstrated the weapon's destructive power; by utilizing high-density explosive force, it is capable of completely destroying a target area spanning 12 to 13 hectares in an instant.

The Director-General of North Korea’s Missile Administration stated that, within this year, military units will be equipped with the appropriate versions of these weapons, with their deployment tailored to specific operational objectives and the nature of the targets.

Images released by KCNA show a missile ascending into the sky, trailing a plume of orange flame, launched from a mobile platform. Another image depicts multiple cluster bombs striking a specific target on an island. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was not present at this military exercise on Saturday. Previously, in April, he had personally observed a test launch of ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions, accompanied by his daughter, Ju Ae.

Source: AFP