Pyongyang: North Korea fired the Hwasong-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile in a recent test launch attended by leader Kim Jong-un to evaluate the missile's warhead capability, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the report a day after South Korea's military detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles launched toward the East Sea at around 6:10 a.m. from North Korea's Sinpho area. The KCNA stated that the purpose of the test was to assess the power of the "cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead" fitted to the missile system.
Five missiles successfully hit a target area near an island approximately 136 kilometers away with "very high density," showcasing their combat capability, the KCNA report elaborated. Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction" over the test-launch, emphasizing its importance in enhancing the high-density striking capability to quell specific target areas, alongside the high-precision striking capability.
The KCNA report further highlighted that the development and introduction of different cluster bomb warheads could better meet the operational demands of the Korean People's Army. Kim Jong-un also encouraged the scientific research teams involved in weapons development, expressing hope for continued efforts to acquire and update various ultra-modern technologies necessary for the army's combat preparedness.
This test follows North Korea's previous test-firing of multiple short-range ballistic missiles on April 8. At that time, state media reported that a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster bomb warhead was tested, claiming it could "reduce to ashes any target" within its range with the highest-density power.
South Korea's Office of National Security has condemned the latest missile launch, describing it as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and calling for an immediate halt to North Korea's missile provocations.