North Korea has conducted a power test of a new “super-large warhead” and a new anti-aircraft missile in the western coastal region as Pyongyang continues to add new weapons to its growing arsenal, state media reported on Saturday.
The North’s state media said the DPRK Missile Administration has conducted a power test of a super-large warhead designed for the “Hwasal-1 Ra-3” strategic cruise missile and a test launch of the “Pyoljji-1-2” new-type anti-aircraft missile in the West Sea of Korea on Friday afternoon, saying “a certain goal has been achieved.”
North Korea uses the term “strategic” to refer to weapons that are designed to carry nuclear warheads. Experts particularly note the uniqueness of such cruise missiles as they can fly low and manoeuvre, potentially making them very difficult to intercept by air and missile defence systems.
Photos released by North Korea’s official Central News Agency show at least two missiles being fired from launchers on the runway. North Korea previously conducted a similar series of tests on 2 February, but did not specify the name of the cruise missile or anti-aircraft missile at the time.
KCNA said that despite rising tensions in the region, Friday’s tests were part of North Korea’s regular military development activities: “Both tests were part of the regular activities of the administration and its affiliated defence science institutes for the rapid development of technologies in various aspects such as tactical and technical performance and operation of new-type weapon systems.”
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula reached their highest level in years as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un began weapons demonstrations, including more powerful missiles aimed at the US mainland and US targets in the Pacific. Earlier, the United States, South Korea and Japan responded by expanding joint military training and strengthening deterrence strategies based on US strategic assets.
