Seoul, 03 November(HS) : North Korea has carried out another strategic weapons test, firing cruise missiles on Monday in a fresh display of its military capabilities amid mounting tensions with South Korea. The launch was reported by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday.

The latest exercise follows a separate test of cluster-bomb warheads conducted over the weekend, underlining Pyongyang's continued focus on developing and diversifying its weapons arsenal.

According to KCNA, the cruise missile carried a medium-sized dispersal warhead designed to strike a target area of five to six hectares with a high concentration of explosive power. North Korean authorities claimed that the test demonstrated improvements in the missile's terminal manoeuvrability, allowing it to execute a vertical strike with greater precision while accounting for the terrain and geographical features of the designated target area.

The agency quoted a North Korean official as saying that the exercise was intended to strengthen the country's ability to protect its national security and deter external threats. The general director of the Missile Administration also described the weapon system as an addition to the country's military capabilities, claiming that it would help defend the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) against potential threats.

The missile launch came a day after Pyongyang reported testing cluster warheads for tactical ballistic missiles. In its account of Sunday's exercise, KCNA claimed that the warhead could cause extensive destruction across an area of 12 to 13 hectares. The Missile Administration reportedly said it was working towards deploying different types of such warheads with military units by the end of 2026.

North Korea's latest weapons demonstrations are unfolding against a backdrop of deteriorating relations with Seoul. Tensions have intensified following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) on September 21, which injured three South Korean soldiers. South Korea attributed the incident to mines planted by the North, although Pyongyang rejected the accusation.

In recent months, North Korea has also conducted trials involving attack drones, a precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, as it continues to expand its military technology and operational capabilities.

South Korea's military did not publicly announce Monday's cruise-missile launch. It had similarly refrained from issuing an immediate statement on the cluster-warhead test.

Speaking on Monday, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Jang Do-young said South Korea and the United States were coordinating closely and carrying out a detailed assessment of the characteristics and specifications of the weapons involved. He clarified that the military did not disclose every projectile launched by North Korea, with decisions on public announcements guided by operational considerations, including the protection of surveillance and reconnaissance assets.

The latest developments have renewed attention on the region's security environment. While ballistic missile launches by North Korea are restricted under United Nations Security Council resolutions, cruise missile tests are not covered by the same specific prohibition.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar