N. Korea tests cruise missile warhead, days after cluster bomb test

North Korea conducted a test of a strategic cruise missile warhead with a dispersal capability, according to state media reports on Tuesday. General Kim Jong-sik, a prominent member of the Workers Party of Korea's Central Military Commission, led the tests on Monday, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Warhead Institute of the Missile Administration confirmed that the mid-sized dispersal warhead, mounted on the cruise missile, has the capability to reduce a target area to between 5 and 6 hectares of ash upon impact with its highest-density power. The Cruise Missile System Institute stated that they had improved the missile's vertical strike capability by enhancing its terminal maneuverability, tailoring it to the targeted area's natural and geographical features.

The administration's director emphasized the urgency of developing various weapon systems, stating that the armed forces must defend the country's security and deter all potential threats. The director declared that these tests demonstrated practical combat power, underscoring the necessity of the ongoing developments.