North Korea’s New Tactical Ballistic Missile Capable of Carrying 4.5 Tons of Nuclear Warheads

PYONYANG – North Korea said it successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a 4.5-ton super-large warhead on Monday (July 1, 2024). But the official KCNA news agency reported the incident on Tuesday (July 2, 2024)

A day earlier, South Korea reported the launch of two ballistic missiles by North Korea and said the second missile likely failed shortly after launch, exploding as it flew over land. The explosions reportedly occurred near the South Korean capital, Seoul.

KCNA did not mention the second missile.

It said the test of the new tactical ballistic missile, named Hwasongpho-11 Da-4.5, was conducted with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and accuracy.

The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the simulated warhead.

“The North’s Missile Administration will conduct another launch of the same type of missile in July to test the explosive power of the super-large warhead,” KCNA said in a rare disclosure of future missile launch plans.

The Hwasongpho-11, or Hwasong-11, is a series of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) developed by North Korea known as the KN-23 and KN-24.

South Korea’s military said Monday that the first of two missiles launched by North Korea appeared to be a KN-23 that flew about 600 km (370 miles).

The KN-23 is likely a missile supplied by North Korea to Russia and used in the war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities examining the wreckage of missiles launched by Russia since December.

North Korea and Russia deny any arms trade, but their ties have grown rapidly since their leaders met in September in Russia promising closer military cooperation.