North Korea announced on Thursday that it successfully test-fired a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) called Hwasong-11A, equipped with a scatter warhead (submunitions and cluster munitions). This test appears to validate the enhanced capabilities of the SRBM’s new warhead, following multiple ballistic missile launches conducted the previous day.
A scatter warhead, also known as a cluster munition, disperses multiple submunitions over a wide area upon impact. This allows a single missile to strike an extensive region or multiple targets simultaneously. North Korea previously conducted tests of similar scatter munitions in 2022.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the Missile Bureau’s Ballistic Missile System Research Institute and Warhead Research Institute successfully tested the Hwasong-11A with the scatter warhead. The test confirmed that the weapon can devastate an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares, or approximately 70,000 square meters (about 17 acres). This area is roughly equivalent to 10 soccer fields combined.
In addition to the scatter warhead test, North Korea reported conducting tests of electromagnetic weapon systems, carbon fiber mock munitions, and a mobile short-range air defense missile complex from May 6 to 8. These tests were reportedly overseen by Kim Jong-sik, the First Deputy Minister of the Party’s Military Industry Department, without the presence of Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party. The series of tests appear to be performance checks and verifications for newly developed weapon systems that had not been previously disclosed.
Kim Jong-sik stated that the electromagnetic weapons and carbon fiber munitions serve a strategic role as special assets that can be integrated and applied across various military platforms.
The agency also reported that firing tests were conducted for an engine designed for maximum operational load using low-cost materials. It added that these tests are of significant importance for the development of the military capabilities and are part of regular activities by the bureau and its affiliated defense scientific research institutions to continuously develop and update weapon systems.
Notably, the party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, which is accessible to North Korean citizens, did not report on the various weapon system tests conducted over the past three days.
South Korean military officials assessed that on Tuesday morning, North Korea attempted to launch an unknown projectile, but the projectile was lost shortly after launch. On Wednesday, multiple SRBMs were launched in the morning, followed by another launch in the afternoon.