North Korea announced Thursday that this week’s series of weapons tests involved a range of new systems, including ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads, as it seeks to expand its nuclear-capable arsenal targeting rival South Korea.
The announcement by North Korea’s state media followed a report from South Korea’s military indicating that the North had fired multiple missiles from its eastern coast in a second round of launches over two days.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the three-day testing campaign that began Monday also showcased anti-aircraft weapons, claimed electromagnetic systems, and carbon-fiber bombs.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said missiles launched on Wednesday traveled between 240 and 700 kilometers (150 to 434 miles) before falling into the sea. They also reported at least one projectile fired Tuesday from near Pyongyang.
Japan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that none of the missiles entered waters within its exclusive economic zone. The U.S. military noted that the launches on Tuesday and Wednesday did not pose any immediate threat to the United States or its allies.
KCNA reported that the tests included cluster-munition warheads mounted on nuclear-capable Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles, which resemble Russia’s Iskander missiles and are designed for low-altitude, maneuverable flight to bypass missile defenses. The report claimed that the missiles could obliterate targets covering 6.5 to 7 hectares (16 to 17.2 acres) when armed with these warheads.
Jang Do-young, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs, said at a briefing that the military was analyzing the launches while coordinating with U.S. and Japanese counterparts, but did not offer a direct assessment of the North’s claims regarding its military advancements.
The missile tests highlight ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, dampening South Korea’s hopes for improved relations.
On Tuesday night, Jang Kum Chol, first vice minister at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, reiterated that South Korea would remain the North’s “most hostile enemy state” and ridiculed Seoul’s liberal government for attempting to revive stalled talks, calling officials “world-startling fools.”
Since nuclear negotiations with Donald Trump collapsed in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has largely suspended diplomacy with Seoul and Washington, accelerating the development of nuclear-capable missiles that threaten U.S. allies in Asia and the U.S. mainland.
In addition, Kim has pursued closer ties with Russia, China, and other nations in conflict with the U.S., aiming to break out of isolation and bolster regional influence. North Korean state media also reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the country Thursday for a two-day diplomatic engagement.
