North Korea Tests Cluster Bomb Ballistic Missiles Capable of Devastating Seven Hectares

North Korea tests the Hwasongpho-11 Ka tactical ballistic missile with cluster bomb warheads, claiming the ability to destroy targets across seven hectares.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 11:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from News.Az

Strategic Deployment of the Hwasongpho-11 Ka System

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced on Thursday that the North Korean military has successfully integrated cluster munition technology into its short-range ballistic missile arsenal. The Hwasongpho-11 Ka, a surface-to-surface tactical missile, was the primary focus of a three-day testing window aimed at verifying combat application and destructive density. According to state media reports, the test confirmed that the cluster warhead can "reduce to ashes" any target covering an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares. This development suggests a tactical shift toward area-denial weaponry designed to neutralize large-scale ground formations and stationary infrastructure with high-intensity explosive power.

Evaluation of Combat Readiness and Offensive Power

The latest round of weapons tests was specifically designed to estimate the "combat application" and "cluster munitions power" of the new warhead design. Analysts note that by using cluster munitions, which disperse hundreds of smaller submunitions over a wide radius, Pyongyang is looking to maximize the lethality of its short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). The Missile Administration stated that the high-density power of these warheads is intended to enhance the army's offensive capabilities against "hostile enemies." The tests also included the evaluation of a short-range mobile air defense missile system, ensuring that the North’s offensive units are protected by a modernized, mobile defensive umbrella.

Regional Alarm Following Multi Phase Missile Launches

The announcement from Pyongyang follows a series of missile detections by South Korea and Japan earlier this week. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that multiple missiles were fired from the Wonsan area and near the capital toward the East Sea. These projectiles traveled distances ranging from 240 to over 700 kilometers, landing in international waters. While the Japan Coast Guard confirmed that no objects entered its exclusive economic zone, the sheer volume of the launches has prompted emergency security meetings in Seoul. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung characterized the tests as "irresponsible," noting that they undermine recent overtures for peace on the Korean Peninsula.