Details on North Korea’s Latest Ballistic Missile Test

On Tuesday, North Korea announced that it had successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile, which it claims can carry a “super large warhead.” This information was reported by the state news agency, KCNA.

The missile test, named Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, was carried out using a simulated heavy warhead to check its flight stability and accuracy. However, the report did not provide details about the simulated warhead.

This announcement came just a day after South Korea reported that North Korea had launched two ballistic missiles. According to South Korea, the second missile exploded over land shortly after it was launched.

Ballistic missiles can be designed to carry various types of warheads, including conventional explosives, as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.

North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles by the United Nations and faces multiple sanctions for its nuclear activities. Despite this, North Korea’s military plans to conduct another test of the same missile type in July to assess the “explosion power” of the super-large warhead, as per KCNA. This is an unusual move, as North Korea rarely discloses its planned missile launches.

South Korea’s Response

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Colonel Lee Sung-jun, suggested that North Korea’s report on the missile test might be deceptive. He mentioned that conducting a test-fire inland is very rare and it is likely false to claim it was successful.

In response, South Korea’s military conducted artillery drills within 5 kilometers of the Military Demarcation Line in the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas. These drills were resumed after North Korea sent hundreds of balloons filled with garbage into South Korea, leading to the suspension of a military agreement with Pyongyang.

South Korea is increasingly worried about North Korea’s growing ties with Russia. There are suspicions that North Korea is supplying ballistic missiles and artillery shells to Russia, although both countries deny these allegations despite their military cooperation and mutual support pact.