N. Korea tests cluster bomb mountable on tactical ballistic missiles

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.

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.

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.

朝鲜官方媒体周日报道称，朝鲜导弹管理局周六对战术弹道导弹的集束炸弹弹头进行了测试。金正植将军监督了此次测试，测试评估了该弹头的作战应用和威力。导弹管理局表示，标准2型弹头可覆盖12至13公顷的目标区域，并承诺在年底前向部队提供四种型号的弹头。

朝鲜中央通讯社称，此次试验评估了为战术弹道导弹设计的集束炸弹弹头的作战适应性和威力。

导弹管理局的研究机构表示，标准型 2 弹头以最高密度的威力可以将 12 至 13 公顷的目标区域夷为平地。

导弹管理局局长表示，弹头根据用途分为四类。

朝鲜在四月份表示，在金正恩和他的女儿金柱爱的监督下，测试了安装在火星-11罗战术弹道导弹上的集束炸弹。

发布于2026年11月1日 上午7:48（韩国标准时间）

这张由朝鲜中央通讯社（朝中社）周日发布的合成照片显示的是前一天进行的战术弹道导弹集束弹头试验。（韩联社）

朝鲜官方媒体周日报道称，朝鲜测试了一种可安装在战术弹道导弹上的集束炸弹，并誓言在年底前部署各种类型的集束弹头。

据朝中社报道，朝鲜导弹管理局于周六进行了此次试验，以评估将安装在战术弹道导弹上的集束炸弹弹头的作战适应性和威力。

据朝中社报道，朝鲜劳动党中央军事委员会委员、朝鲜劳动党中央委员会第一副部长金钟植将军监督了此次试验。

集束炸弹会释放数十枚至数百枚子弹药，使其能够打击大范围内的多个目标。

据朝中社报道，导弹管理局下属的研究机构“证实，标准2型集束炸弹弹头在其最高密度功率下，能够将12至13公顷的目标区域夷为平地”。

导弹管理局局长曾表示，集束炸弹弹头根据其用途分为四类。

“今年内，我们将使各部队能够根据作战目标和目标的具体特征选择和使用所有这些类型，”该主任说。

今年4月，朝鲜表示，他们测试了安装在“火星-11”罗战术弹道导弹上的集束炸弹，此次发射由领导人金正恩和他的女儿金柱爱监督。

朝鲜方面表示，此次发射是为了评估该武器系统所配备的集束炸弹弹头和破片地雷弹头的威力。