SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea tested new tactical ballistic missiles using super-large warheads and modified cruise missiles on Wednesday, as leader Kim Jong Un called for stronger conventional weapons and nuclear capabilities, he said. state news agency KCNA.
The tests to improve the weapons’ capabilities are required because of the serious threat posed by external forces to the country’s security, Kim, who led the tests, said.
The tally followed the firing of several short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday reported by the South Korean military, which was the second time the North had test-fired missiles in a week.
Last week, North Korea also unveiled a uranium enrichment facility, in its first public report.
Kim stressed “the need to continue strengthening the nuclear force and have the strongest military technical capability and overwhelming offensive capability even in the field of conventional weapons,” KCNA said.
Wednesday’s tests involved the new Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 tactical ballistic missile, KCNA said, indicating that it was part of a series of short-range ballistic missiles it had developed.
The missile was fitted with a 4.5 ton super-large conventional warhead, KCNA said.
North Korean state media reported the missile tests with the same name in July, which were considered a partial success. On Thursday, state media published pictures of a bullet hitting a target in a hilly area.
South Korea’s military said Thursday that two ballistic missiles landed in a mountainous area in the North’s northeast.
Such a missile launch test with the intention of hitting an internal target is probably unprecedented, said Shin Seung-ki, who is the head of research on North Korea’s military at the state-run Institute of Korea for Defense Analysis in Seoul.
North Korea routinely launches missiles to land at sea or on an uninhabited island.
The particular missile with the designation Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5 is still under development, but Russia may soon launch it if its performance and reliability can be guaranteed by more tests, Shin said.
“North Korea will want to shorten that time as much as possible,” he said.
Kiev officials and independent experts have said there are signs that some of the missiles used by Russia in the war against Ukraine are made in North Korea, including some that were produced this year. Moscow and Pyongyang both deny any illicit arms trade or shipments.
The North’s military also tested a strategic cruise missile that has been upgraded for combat use, KCNA said.
North Korea has criticized military exercises by the South Korean and US militaries, including a large-scale exercise this summer, as preparation for war on the Korean peninsula.
The allies say the exercises are defensive in nature and aimed at maintaining readiness against any North Korean aggression.