North Korea test-fires Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missile with cluster warheads attended by Kim Jong-un
KCNA report says five missiles struck target area near island about 136 km away with 'very high density'; South Korea condemns launch as UN violation
Quick Look
- North Korea conducted a test launch of the Hwasong-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile with cluster bomb and fragmentation mine warheads, attended by leader Kim Jong-un.
- Five missiles struck a target area near an island approximately 136 kilometers away with very high density, fully demonstrating their combat capability, according to KCNA.
- Kim expressed great satisfaction, stating the test is significant for boosting high-density striking capability to quell specific target areas.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests in recent weeks, including a test on April 8 involving a tactical ballistic missile with cluster bomb warhead. The Hwasong-11 Ra is a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile system. Cluster munitions are prohibited under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, though neither North Korea nor major powers like the US and China are signatories.
SEOUL, April 20 (Yonhap) -- 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. 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 said the purpose of the test-launch was to evaluate the power of the "cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead" fitted to the weapon system. Five missiles struck a target area near an island about 136 kilometers away with "very high density," fully demonstrating their combat capability, the KCNA report said. Kim expressed "great satisfaction" over the test-launch, saying, "It is of weighty significance ... to boost the high-density striking capability to quell a specific target area, as well as the high-precision striking capability." "The development and introduction of different cluster bomb warheads can meet the operational demand of the Korean People's Army in a more satisfactory and effective way," the report added. The leader also encouraged science research groups responsible for weapons development, expressing hope that they would continue their "important undertakings to acquire and update various ultra-modern technologies necessary for the combat preparedness of our army." Sunday's launch followed the North's test-firing of multiple short-range ballistic missiles on April 8. State media said at the time the country test-fired a tactical ballistic missile tipped with a cluster bomb warhead, 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 North Korean missile launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and called for an immediate halt to the North's missile provocations.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
South Korea and US may conduct joint military exercises in response to demonstrate deterrence
Likely · Within weeks
UN Security Council may discuss additional sanctions or condemnation
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the exact range of the Hwasong-11 Ra missile?
- How many cluster bombs does each missile carry?
- Will there be additional tests in the coming days or weeks?
