North Korea announced on Thursday that its recent weapons tests involved multiple new systems, including ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads, as the country continues to expand its nuclear-capable arsenal targeting rival South Korea.
The announcement by state media followed reports from South Korea’s military of multiple missile launches from North Korea’s eastern coast, marking the second round of tests in as many days.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the tests, conducted over three days starting Monday, also demonstrated anti-aircraft weapons, electromagnetic systems, and carbon-fiber bombs.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that missiles launched on Wednesday traveled between 240 and 700 kilometers before landing in the sea, with at least one additional projectile fired on Tuesday near Pyongyang.
KCNA claimed that some of the missiles tested were nuclear-capable Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-munition warheads. Designed for low-altitude, maneuverable flight similar to Russia’s Iskander systems, the weapons are said to evade missile defense systems and could devastate areas of 6.5 to 7 hectares with high-intensity impact. South Korea’s military has not immediately responded to these claims.
The tests underscore ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and complicate hopes for renewed dialogue between the two sides.
Earlier this week, Jang Kum Chol, a senior official in North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, called South Korea the country’s “most hostile enemy state” and criticized Seoul for seeking to restart stalled diplomatic talks.
Since the collapse of nuclear negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has largely suspended diplomatic engagement with Seoul and Washington while accelerating development of advanced missile systems capable of targeting U.S. allies in Asia and potentially the U.S. mainland.
In parallel, Kim has strengthened ties with countries including Russia and China to counter international isolation and boost regional influence. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit North Korea for a two-day trip, reflecting ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations.