What did North Korea say its Standard Type 2 cluster-bomb warhead could do?

The Missile Administration’s research institutes said it could turn a target area of 12 to 13 hectares into ashes with its highest-density power. The test was intended to assess the warhead’s combat application and power.

How many types of cluster-bomb warheads does North Korea plan to make available to its military, and by when?

The Missile Administration’s general director said the warheads are divided into four categories based on their purposes. The director said units would be able to select and use all the types according to operational aims and target characteristics within the year.

Who oversaw North Korea’s tactical ballistic missile cluster-bomb test, and what earlier test did the country report?

Gen. Kim Jong-sik oversaw the test, according to the Korean Central News Agency. In April, North Korea said it tested cluster bombs on a Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missile in a launch overseen by Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae.

N. Korea tests cluster bomb mountable on tactical ballistic missiles

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Summary

North Korea’s Missile Administration tested a cluster-bomb warhead for tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday, state media said Sunday. Gen. Kim Jong-sik oversaw the test, which assessed the warhead’s combat application and power. The Missile Administration said the Standard Type 2 warhead could affect a target area of 12 to 13 hectares and vowed to make four types available to units by year’s end.

Key Facts

The Korean Central News Agency said the test assessed the adaptation to combat and power of a cluster-bomb warhead designed for tactical ballistic missiles.
The Missile Administration’s research institutes said the Standard Type 2 warhead could turn a target area of 12 to 13 hectares into ashes with its highest-density power.
The Missile Administration’s general director said the warheads are divided into four categories according to their purposes.
North Korea said in April that it tested cluster bombs mounted on the Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missile, in a launch overseen by Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 1, 2026 7:48 am KST

This composite photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday, shows a test of a cluster warhead for tactical ballistic missiles, conducted the previous day. Yonhap

North Korea has tested a cluster bomb that can be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles and vowed to field various types of cluster warheads by the end of the year, its state media said Sunday.

The North's Missile Administration conducted the test on Saturday to assess adaptation to combat and power of a cluster-bomb warhead to be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Gen. Kim Jong-sik, member of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee oversaw the test, the KCNA said.

A cluster bomb releases dozens to hundreds of submunitions, allowing it to strike multiple targets over a wide area.

The research institutes under the Missile Administration "confirmed that Standard Type 2 cluster-bomb warhead is capable of turning into ashes a target area of 12 to 13 hectares with its highest-density power," according to the KCNA.

The general director of the Missile Administration was quoted as stating that the cluster bomb warheads are classified into four categories depending on their purposes.

"Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types according to operational aims and specific features of targets," the director said.

In April, North Korea said it tested cluster bombs mounted on the Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missile, a launch overseen by leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae.

The North said the launch was to evaluate the power of the cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead fitted to the weapon system.

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