In brief
North Korea tested a cluster bomb adaptable to tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday in a ceremony overseen by General Kim Jong‑sik, according to Yonhap and KCNA. The test, which evaluated the bomb’s combat suitability and explosive power, highlighted a 12‑13‑hectare blast radius for its highest‑density warhead and stated the missile administration would offer four warhead categories for units to choose from. Yonhap reports the regime aims to field several cluster‑warhead variants by year‑end, a claim not previously quoted elsewhere. Earlier this year, a similar launch on an Hwasong‑11 missile was conducted under the oversight of Kim Jong‑un and his daughter Ju‑ae.
North Korea conducted a test of a cluster bomb that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday, with the event overseen by General Kim Jong‑sik and reported by Korea Central News Agency and the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
The test aimed to evaluate the cluster bomb’s adaptation to combat and the power of its warhead, a state‑media briefing said. The bombs release dozens to hundreds of submunitions, allowing them to strike multiple targets over a wide area.
According to KCNA, the Standard Type 2 cluster‑bomb warhead can turn a target area of 12 to 13 hectares to ashes with its highest‑density power. The missile administration’s general director said the cluster bomb warheads are classified into four categories depending on their purposes.
Name: General Director of the Missile Administration.
Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types according to operational aims and specific features of targets.
Yonhap reports that North Korea will field several variants of cluster warheads by the end of the year, a plan that has not been cited by other outlets.
Earlier, in April, the country conducted a launch of cluster bombs on the Hwasong‑11 tactical ballistic missile, overseen by Kim Jong‑un and his daughter Ju‑ae, to evaluate the cluster bomb warhead and a fragmentation mine warhead fitted to the system.
