North Korea Claims Cluster-Bomb Warhead Can Turn 12-13 Hectares Into Ashes
North Korea says a “Standard Type 2” cluster-bomb warhead can turn 12 to 13 hectares “into ashes.” The claim by KCNA is unverified.
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North Korea says it has tested a cluster-bomb warhead for its tactical ballistic missiles. State media claims the “Standard Type 2” warhead can turn a target area of 12 to 13 hectares “into ashes.”
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the Missile Administration ran the test on Saturday, Oct. 31. It published the report on Sunday, Nov. 1. These are North Korean claims, and no outside party has verified them.
What KCNA Says
KCNA says the test assessed the “adaptation to combat and power” of the warhead. Full Gen. Kim Jong Sik oversaw it. He sits on the Workers’ Party Central Military Commission.
Two institutes, for missile systems and warheads, “confirmed” the warhead can turn that area into ashes “with its highest-density power.” Twelve to 13 hectares is roughly 30 to 32 acres. KCNA did not mention Kim Jong Un in connection with the test.
The Missile Administration’s general director said the cluster-bomb warheads fall into four categories, for “special and standard purposes.” “Within this year,” he said, units will be able to select and use all types according to “operational aims.” KCNA called the test part of “regular scientific research activities.”
Which Missile Was Fired
The KCNA text we reviewed does not name the missile. The Japan Times says KCNA’s photos show Hwasong-11D short-range ballistic missiles firing, with warheads hitting an island target. See our Hwasong-11 coverage.
Shin Jong-woo of the Korea Defense and Security Forum told Yonhap the missile “appeared to be” the Hwasong-11 Ra. Ra is the Korean-letter name for the variant Western analysts call the Hwasong-11D.
Seoul’s Reaction
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it monitored the launch. The missile flew toward the Yellow Sea from around Chongju county in the northwest, according to Yonhap.
The JCS said it “tracked relevant activities” before the launch under “close information sharing” with the United States. It said it “maintained a readiness posture.” It made the statement on Sunday, a day after the test, and gave no flight distance.
We found no specific statements from Tokyo or Washington on this test. On Saturday, U.S., South Korean and Japanese top diplomats reaffirmed “complete denuclearization” at talks in Atlanta, the Japan Times reported.
An Echo of April’s Claims
North Korea made similar claims in April. KCNA said an April 8 KN-23 test showed a cluster warhead could reduce 6.5 to 7 hectares to ashes. A test of Hwasong-11D missiles on April 19, overseen by Kim Jong Un, reportedly covered 12.5 to 13 hectares.
Analyst Vann Van Diepen of 38 North said the claims are hard to judge. There is no public data on submunition numbers, size or release height. For scale, he cited the 1990s U.S. ATACMS Block I, which affected about 3.3 hectares.
Van Diepen wrote that the North’s SRBMs take on missions that air forces usually perform. He said such tests also follow a February 2026 Party Congress pledge to reinforce missile deployments against South Korea.
A Busy Month for Pyongyang
On Oct. 29, North Korea fired more than 10 short-range missiles from Wonsan toward the East Sea, as we reported. They flew about 250 km. The Korea Herald counted it as the 17th ballistic launch of 2026.
Earlier in October, North Korea reported tests of tactical ballistic missiles that flew more than 900 km. It also tested two types of submarine-launched cruise missiles, state media said. Last week Kim Jong Un called for “absolute superiority” in drones.
Tensions are also high at the border. A Sept. 21 DMZ mine blast wounded three South Korean soldiers, and Seoul’s talks offer is unanswered. Separately, the FBI blamed North Korea for the $6.3 billion Binance hack.
The Japan Times speculated that Pyongyang is building leverage before a possible Kim–Trump meeting at APEC in Shenzhen. We found no confirmation of such a meeting.
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