North Korea says latest tests included missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads

North Korea on Thursday said its recent round of weapons tests involved a range of new systems, including ballistic missiles fitted with cluster-bomb warheads, as it continues efforts to expand its nuclear-capable arsenal aimed at rival South Korea.

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The announcement from the country’s state media came a day after South Korea’s military reported detecting multiple missile launches from North Korea’s eastern coastal region, marking the second round of tests in two days.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the tests lasted three days starting Monday and also featured demonstrations of anti-aircraft weapons, electromagnetic systems, and carbon-fiber bombs.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles launched on Wednesday traveled between 240 and 700 kilometers before landing in the sea. At least one additional projectile was reportedly fired on Tuesday from an area near Pyongyang.
 

KCNA stated that some of the missiles tested were nuclear-capable Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-munition warheads. These missiles are designed for low-altitude, maneuverable flight, similar to Russia’s Iskander systems, allowing them to evade missile defense systems. The report claimed the weapons could devastate targets across an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares with high-intensity impact.
 

South Korea’s military has not immediately responded to these claims.

The developments highlight ongoing tensions between North and South Korea, dampening hopes for renewed dialogue between the two sides.

In a statement earlier in the week, Jang Kum Chol, a senior official in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, described South Korea as the country’s “most hostile enemy state” and criticized Seoul’s leadership for attempting to restart stalled diplomatic talks.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has largely halted diplomatic engagement with both Seoul and Washington since the collapse of nuclear negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. Since then, the country has accelerated the development of advanced missile systems capable of targeting U.S. allies in Asia and potentially the U.S. mainland.

Kim has also strengthened ties with countries such as Russia and China as part of efforts to counter international isolation and expand regional influence. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit North Korea for a two-day trip as diplomatic engagements between the countries continue.