North Korea has conducted tests of another cluster bomb that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles and vowed to produce different variants by the end of the year.
The North’s defence science research institute conducted the test on Saturday to assess the adaptation and power of the cluster-bomb warhead, state media KCNA reported on Sunday.
The test found that a standard Type 2 cluster bomb warhead can destroy a target area of 12 to 13 hectares at its highest density, according to the report.
North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006, aimed at halting Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
The general director of the North’s Missile Administration said the cluster bomb warheads were classified into four categories based on their purposes, without elaborating further.
North Korea will enable its military units by the end of 2026 to use all types of the bombs, according to the report. "Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types according to operational aims and specific features of targets," the director was quoted as saying.
A cluster bomb disperses dozens, sometimes hundreds, of smaller bomblets across a wide area, enabling it to hit multiple targets simultaneously.
Pyongyang has ramped up its show of force in recent weeks with multiple missile tests and holding a drone exhibition. Analysts said the tests could be part of efforts to modernize the military.
South Korea said it had been monitoring the missile launch that was fired toward the Yellow Sea from an area around the northwestern county of Chongju.
"Under close information sharing between South Korea and the United States, (we) tracked relevant activities before North Korea's missile launch and maintained a readiness posture," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday.
North Korea has gained experience in modern warfare, sending troops to the war in Ukraine for its ally, Moscow. North Korea test-fired around 10 ballistic missiles from its east coast toward the sea on Thursday, when German chancellor Friedrich Merz visited South Korea for a summit.
The short-range missiles were launched at around 12.30pm local time from around Wonsan on North Korea's eastern coast and flew about 250km, Seoul said.
North Korea last fired ballistic missiles on 12 October, amid heightened tension on the inter-Korean border over a mine blast that wounded South Korean soldiers last month.
Pyongyang has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year. North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006, aimed at halting Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
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