N. Korea Launches Five Missiles in Cluster Warhead Test

(MENAFN) North Korea confirmed Monday it had launched five short-range Hwasongpho-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles, following independent detection of the launches by both South Korea and Japan, with projectiles tracked heading toward the East Sea.

A state-run news agency reported that supreme leader Kim Jong-un personally attended the test-fire to assess the missiles' warhead performance.

According to the news agency, the exercise was designed to "verify the characteristics and power of cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead applied to the tactical ballistic missile." The agency further reported that all five missiles struck a designated target zone near an island approximately 136 kilometers — roughly 85 miles — away, with "very high density" accuracy.

Kim was said to have expressed "great satisfaction" with the results, declaring the test to be of "weighty significance," the news agency added.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had earlier reported detecting the launches originating from the Sinpho area of North Korea at approximately 6:10 a.m. local time — 2110 GMT Saturday — with the missiles traveling around 140 kilometers, or 87 miles, according to South Korean media.

"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-US combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.

Japan's Defense Ministry separately acknowledged the launches, noting the missiles appeared to have landed outside the country's exclusive economic zone. Media reported no damage was recorded on Japanese territory.

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