The DPRK’s General Directorate of Rocket Science successfully test-fired a new type of tactical ballistic missile, the Hwasongpo-11da-4.5, and a modernized strategic cruise missile on Wednesday, the launch of which was watched by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un, the DPRK’s Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA) reports.
Earlier, the South Korean military reported that North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from an area in Pyongyang-do Province in a northeasterly direction at around 6:50 a.m. (00:50 Moscow time) on Wednesday. The missiles flew about 400 kilometers. South Korea strongly condemned the launch, saying it threatened peace and security in the region. In this regard, the Japanese government issued a strong protest to the DPRK, noting that such actions threaten the security of the entire region.
According to KCNA, the new type of tactical ballistic missile was equipped with an ultra-large warhead with conventional payloads weighing 4.5 tons.
“The objective of the test launch was to confirm the accuracy of a missile with a super-large warhead hitting a target at a distance of up to 320 km medium range and the explosive power of a super-large warhead.” – the agency writes.
A modernized strategic cruise missile was also tested, the power of which was improved in accordance with its combat use.
The country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, oversaw the weapons test launches and expressed satisfaction with the results, the agency said.
“He said such tests and the continuous increase in weapons power through tests are directly related to the serious threat to the DPRK’s state security from external forces.” – KCNA reports.
Kim Jong-un explained that the military-political situation in the region, which today “threatens the state security” of the DPRK, means that strengthening the military forces should be the most important thing for the country. According to him, the DPRK, along with further build-up of nuclear forces, should have the most powerful military-technical potential in the world, as well as an overwhelming strike capability in the field of conventional weapons.
The DPRK leader added that having a powerful force makes it possible to “restrain and disrupt” the strategic calculations and will of enemies, and enables peace and security to be safeguarded.
