North Korea Tests Warheads Equipped with Cluster Munitions

North Korea tested warheads equipped with cluster munitions to enable its military to “use all these types” of weapons by the end of this year, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The agency stated that the test, conducted on Saturday, October 31, aimed to “evaluate the suitability of a cluster munition-equipped warhead for combat operations and its destructive power, in preparation for its installation on tactical ballistic missiles.” According to officials, the weapon “can reduce an area of 12 to 13 hectares to ashes when used at full power.” The director general 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 specified characteristics of targets.” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend the test, but he previously oversaw a similar test in April 2026, accompanied by his daughter.