Updated 2h ago · World
North Korea tests cluster bomb warheads in latest ‘major’ weapons test
North Korea tested cluster-bomb warheads designed for its tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday, state media KCNA reported Sunday.
- 12 to 13 hectares: target area one Type 2 warhead can destroy, per KCNA.
- 4 warhead categories exist, the Missile Administration's director said, without giving details.
- State media images showed Hwasong-11D missiles striking an island target.
- South Korea said it tracked the launch toward the Yellow Sea from Chongju.
Why it matters: Cluster warheads scatter many smaller bomblets over a wide area to hit several targets at once. North Korea says all types will be available to its units this year.
- 10+ occasions of missile tests by North Korea so far this year.
- About 10 ballistic missiles were fired Thursday during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Seoul.
How 2 sources split on this story
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2 sources · 2 articles · 50% Left coverage
Center coverage, 1 sources: The center treats it as the latest in a series of tests, relying mainly on North Korea's own state-media account.
Left coverage, 1 sources: The left sees the test as part of a broader military buildup, tied to sanctions, Ukraine combat experience and border tensions.
What’s next: "Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types," the Missile Administration director said.
- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said they are sharing information with the U.S. and keeping a readiness posture.
- Can independent sources confirm the warhead performance claims in North Korean state media?
- Has North Korea's troop deployment for Russia in Ukraine shaped these weapons programs?
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