Pyongyang, November 03, 2026 : North Korea has tested a dispersal warhead designed for a strategic cruise missile, state media reported Tuesday, following a separate test of a cluster munition for ballistic missiles over the weekend.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the Missile Administration conducted the tests on Monday to evaluate the warhead's destructive capability and the missile's flight performance during a vertical strike.
According to the Warhead Institute of the Missile Administration, the medium-sized dispersal warhead fitted to the cruise missile is capable of destroying a target area measuring between five and six hectares through its concentrated impact.
The Cruise Missile System Institute said the missile's vertical-strike capability had been enhanced through improvements to its terminal manoeuvrability, taking into account the geographical and natural features of potential target areas.
The director of the Missile Administration said developing a wider range of weapons systems had become increasingly important, citing the armed forces' responsibility to protect national security and deter potential threats. He described the tests as demonstrating the country's "practical combat power."
North Korea has pledged to deploy various types of cluster warheads by the end of this year. On Saturday, it conducted a separate test involving a cluster bomb designed for tactical ballistic missiles.
Source: QNA
