Image source: topwar.ru
The DPRK has successfully tested a cluster warhead for the Hwasongpo-11ra ballistic missile. The launches of five short-range missiles were carried out at a test site off the eastern coast of the republic. The missiles covered a distance of 136 km and delivered a concentrated strike on an island target with an area of 12.5–13 hectares.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Hwasongpo-11ra maneuverable solid-fuel missile belongs to the class of tactical surface–to-surface ballistic missiles. Missiles of this type are placed on a self-propelled launcher. The Hwasongpo-11ra missile system with a warhead mass of 250-500 kg is capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers. The Hwasongpo-11ra is mounted on a self-propelled launcher mounted on a three-axle wheeled chassis with four shipping containers.
Image source: topwar.ru
Image source: topwar.ru
The appearance of a cluster warhead is another step by the DPRK to improve its missile arsenal in the direction of greater flexibility in combat use. In particular, equipping missiles with cluster warheads can increase their effectiveness in hitting area targets, including US military installations located in the southern part of the peninsula.
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un, who observed the tests, noted that the development and implementation of cluster warheads for various purposes make it possible to fully meet the operational needs of the republic's armed forces. He stressed that both high precision strikes and the ability to hit targets located over a large area are important for effective combat operations.
