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North Korea conducted tests of warheads equipped with cluster munitions to enable its military to "utilize all these types" of weapons by year-end, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
The agency stated that Saturday's test aimed to "assess the combat suitability and destructive power of a cluster munition-equipped warhead, ahead of mounting it on tactical ballistic missiles."
According to officials, this weapon "can turn an area between 12 and 13 hectares into ashes when used at full capacity."
The director of North Korea's missile administration said, "This year, we will allow units to select and use all these types (of weapons) according to operational objectives and the specific characteristics of targets."
Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency show a projectile launching from a mobile platform amid an orange smoke cloud. Other images show the impact effects of this submunition weapon on one of the islands.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend this test. However, he previously oversaw a test of this type in April, accompanied by his daughter Ju Ae.
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