In a display of military prowess, North Korea announced on Thursday that its latest weapons test involved a tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a “super-large” warhead, alongside a strategic cruise missile. State media, citing the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), revealed that leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the launches. The KCNA described the test as involving the “new-type tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 and an improved strategic cruise missile.”
This series of launches marks the latest in a string of weapons tests conducted by North Korea this year. Experts speculate that these tests could be linked to allegations of North Korea supplying weapons to its ally Russia for use in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The KCNA emphasized the significant capabilities of the new missile systems, stating that the tactical ballistic missile was equipped with a “4.5 tonnage super-large conventional warhead.” Additionally, they highlighted the enhanced performance of the strategic cruise missile, specifically for its combat deployment.
South Korea’s military, however, categorized the Wednesday launches as a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles, estimating their flight path to be approximately 400 kilometers east of the Korean peninsula. According to the KCNA, the launch was designed to verify the accuracy of the missile’s strike at a medium range of 320 kilometers, as well as the explosive power of the “super-large” warhead.
Kim Jong Un justified the test as a necessary measure for safeguarding the nation’s security. “The military and political situation in the region… indicates that the work for bolstering up the military capability for self-defence should be the most important affair,” he said, as reported by KCNA.
Amidst long-stalled diplomacy, North Korea has escalated tensions with South Korea, declaring it their “principal enemy” this year. They have also taken the step of deploying nuclear-capable weapons to border areas. Furthermore, North Korea has strengthened its military ties with Russia, culminating in a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang in June, where they signed a mutual defense agreement.
Kim Jong Un received Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang last weekend, and North Korea’s foreign minister visited Russia earlier this week. The North is also gearing up for a parliamentary meeting in October, which is expected to approve measures aimed at escalating tensions with South Korea, including incorporating the hostile relationship between the two Koreas into its constitution.
