North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles that tested the power of its cluster munitions, its government news agency said on Monday, confirming the latest in a flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.
The Sunday launches, which were supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, aimed to "verify the characteristics and power of cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead applied to the tactical ballistic missile", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
They followed other tests in recent weeks of weaponry, including ballistic missiles, anti-warship cruise missiles and cluster munitions.
Neither Korea has signed the 2008 Oslo convention against cluster bombs.
South Korea condemned the launches and called on the North to cease "provocations".
KCNA said the maneuver tested the warhead of the Hwasongpho-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile.
Five projectiles were fired towards a target area around an island about 136 kilometers (85 miles) from the launch site, it said.
They struck an area of 12.5 to 13 hectares with "very high density, fully displaying their combat might".
Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the test results" and noted that the development of cluster bomb warheads "can... boost the high-density striking capability to quell a specific target area as well as the high-precision striking capability", KCNA said.
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the reported range would put Seoul and key US military installations within Pyongyang's reach.
"This system appears designed to fill the gap between multiple rocket launchers and short-range ballistic missiles," he said.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, noted that frontline corps commanders observed the test, in contrast to the weapons researchers who watched previous ones.
"This suggests the system is nearing operational deployment, with the capability to be launched directly from forward positions against South Korea and US bases," he said.
The United States stations about 28,000 troops in the South to help it defend against military threats from the North.
- 'Firm' defense posture -
South Korea reported the test on Sunday, saying its military had "detected several short-range ballistic missiles" fired from the Sinpo area in eastern North Korea.
Seoul said it was maintaining a "firm combined defense posture" with the United States and would "respond overwhelmingly to any provocation".
"Pyongyang must immediately halt its successive missile provocations that are heightening tensions", and "actively engage in the South Korean government's efforts to establish peace", the defense ministry said.
But analysts said the tests signaled that Pyongyang had rejected Seoul's attempts to repair strained ties.
Among them was an expression of regret from Seoul over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, a gesture that Pyongyang initially seemed to welcome before reverting to describing the South as its "most hostile" enemy state.
- Two more destroyers -
North Korea is subject to multiple United Nations sanctions banning its nuclear weapons development and use of ballistic missile technology, restrictions it has repeatedly flouted.
Earlier in April, Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of strategic cruise missiles launched from a naval warship, with official photos showing him watching the firings flanked by military officials.
Those tests were carried out from the Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-ton destroyers in the North's arsenal, both launched last year.
The North is also building two more 5,000-ton class destroyers to add to its fleet.
Citing satellite imagery from a US-based intelligence firm, a South Korean lawmaker said this month that the North was "accelerating the naval forces' modernization on the back of military assistance from Russia".
North Korea has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return.
