North Korea has announced it conducted tests to evaluate the power of cluster munitions designed for its strategic cruise missiles and to confirm their vertical strike capabilities.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on November 3 that the North's Missile Bureau carried out these tests the previous day, focusing on the effectiveness of the cluster munitions for strategic cruise missiles.
The tests were overseen by Kim Jong-sik, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party and the first deputy director of the party's Central Committee. The bureau's research institute claimed that the tests confirmed the ability of the medium-sized cluster munitions mounted on the cruise missiles to devastate target areas of 5 to 6 hectares. One hectare is approximately 10,000 square meters, meaning the claimed strike area is about 50,000 to 60,000 square meters.
Cluster munitions refer to a type of warhead that disperses multiple submunitions over a wide area above the target, increasing lethality against personnel and equipment.
The Missile Bureau's cruise missile system research institute stated that it enhanced the maneuverability of the cruise missiles during the terminal phase, taking into account the geographical characteristics of the operational area, and claimed it has achieved vertical strike capabilities. This suggests the ability to rapidly descend and strike targets from above during the terminal flight phase.
On October 31, North Korea also conducted a power evaluation test for cluster munitions intended for tactical ballistic missiles, showcasing its ongoing development of cluster munitions for both tactical and strategic missile systems.
The head of the Missile Bureau emphasized the urgent need to develop various weapon systems, stating that a diverse range of combat capabilities equipped with the most powerful weapon systems will protect the nation from potential external threats and modernize its military power. He added that these tests are not only significant but also represent practical combat readiness.
The Missile Bureau claimed that this test is part of normal scientific research activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of its weapon systems. Similar to previous tests of cluster munitions for tactical ballistic missiles, the details of this test were not disclosed to domestic media outlets such as the Workers' Party's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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