North Korea Tests New Warhead for Strategic Cruise Missile
North Korea has tested a new dispersal warhead for its cruise missile, enhancing its vertical strike capabilities amid rising tensions.
Seoul, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : North Korea has conducted a test of a new dispersal warhead for its strategic cruise missile, following a recent trial of cluster bombs for ballistic missiles. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missile administration evaluated the warhead’s power and the missile’s ability for vertical strikes, which involve targeting from above.
The administration’s warhead institute reported that this medium-sized dispersal warhead can devastate an area of 5 to 6 hectares with its maximum striking power. The cruise missile system institute noted improvements in the missile’s terminal maneuverability, enhancing its vertical strike capability while considering the geographical and natural conditions of target areas.
The director of the missile administration emphasized the urgency of developing various new weapon systems to ensure national security and counter all types of threats. He stated that these tests demonstrate the country’s “real combat capability.” North Korea has previously announced plans to deploy multiple types of cluster warheads by the end of the year and conducted a test of a cluster bomb that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles.
Experts believe that the missile’s vertical strike capability aims to more accurately target South Korea’s underground military facilities and tunnel entrances, which are difficult to hit with conventional horizontal or angled attacks. Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum in Seoul, explained that this technology maximizes the missile’s destructive power by allowing it to reach maximum speed before impact, leveraging gravitational acceleration.
In response, the South Korean military has stated it is fully prepared to counter any potential provocations from North Korea. Captain Jang Do-young, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed during a press briefing that South Korea has developed advanced precision strike technologies and associated weapon systems. He assured that South Korea’s capabilities surpass the levels indicated by North Korea and that the military remains on constant alert.
