North Korea tests cluster warhead for its ballistic missiles

North Korea announced on Sunday that it had conducted a test of a cluster warhead that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, as part of developing its military arsenal. The missile administration carried out the test on Saturday to evaluate the warhead's efficiency and destructive capability. Officials said the weapon can destroy an area of 12 to 13 hectares.

North Korea announced on Sunday that it had conducted a test of a cluster warhead that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, as part of its efforts to develop its military arsenal. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the missile administration carried out the test on Saturday to evaluate the warhead's efficiency and destructive capability in combat conditions. Officials said the weapon, when used at full capacity, can destroy an area ranging from 12 to 13 hectares. Cluster munitions rely on releasing large numbers of small bombs that spread over a wide area, enabling the targeting of multiple positions. Photos published by the agency showed a projectile launching from a mobile platform, along with images of its impact on an island. A missile administration official said that military units will be able this year to select and use warhead types according to mission and target nature. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not participate in the test, despite overseeing a similar experiment last April. The test comes amid North Korea's intensification of missile tests and military displays in recent weeks.