- The North Korean military has tested improved Hwasong Ra eleven tactical ballistic missiles.
- The test was to verify the ability of the missiles to carry the warhead to the target.
- Five rockets hit an area of about thirteen hectares near the island.
North Korea’s military on Sunday tested several upgraded Hwasong-11 Ra short-range tactical ballistic missiles in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un. The aim of this test was to evaluate the missile’s ability to carry a warhead, state media said on Monday. It was reported by the Jonhap agency.
“Five tactical ballistic missiles, launched towards a target area near an island about 136 kilometers away, hit an area of 12.5-13 hectares and fully demonstrated their combat power,” the state news agency KCNA reported.
Kim Jong-un expressed “great satisfaction” with the test results. According to him, such tests are of great importance because they strengthen the ability to strike with high precision on specific target areas. The leader expressed hope that scientific research teams responsible for the development of weapons will continue their “important efforts to acquire and modernize the various modern technologies necessary for the combat readiness of our military.”
The South Korean armed forces reported on the launch of the missiles already on Sunday. The rockets were launched around 6:10 a.m. local time (Saturday at 11:30 p.m. CEST) from the vicinity of the city of Sinpcho towards the Sea of Japan.
The DPRK has conducted multiple tests of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and cluster munitions in recent weeks. According to Seoul, it violated UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit the isolated country from launching or testing ballistic missiles of any range.
