North Korea has carried out another test of a cluster-bomb warhead for tactical ballistic missiles, with plans to make different variants available to military units by the end of this year, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing state media.The test was conducted on Saturday by the country’s Missile Administration to examine how effectively the warhead could be used in combat and the extent of damage it could inflict, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.According to KCNA, research institutes under the Missile Administration “confirmed that Standard Type 2 cluster-bomb warhead is capable of turning into ashes a target area of 12 to 13 hectares with its highest-density power,”.The Missile Administration’s general director said the warheads had been divided into four categories, each designed for a different purpose.“Within this year we will enable units to select and use all those types according to operational aims and specific features of targets,” the director was quoted as saying.Cluster bombs scatter multiple smaller explosive devices, known as submunitions, over a large area. This allows them to hit several targets in a single strike.South Korea’s military said it had tracked the launch, which took place from an area near Chongju in the country’s northwest, with the missile heading towards the Yellow Sea.“Under close information sharing between South Korea and the United States, (we) tracked relevant activities before North Korea’s missile launch and maintained a readiness posture,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Sunday, Yonhap reported.Seoul’s military typically issues statements on North Korean ballistic missile launches soon after they are detected.Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Seoul-based Korea Defense and Security Forum, identified the missile as possibly belonging to the Hwasong-11 Ra series.North Korea had announced a similar test in April, when it fired cluster-bomb warheads mounted on a Hwasong-11 Ra tactical ballistic missile. Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae had watched that launch, Yonhap reported.The latest test comes as the foreign ministers of South Korea, the US and Japan renewed their push for North Korea’s complete denuclearisation at a trilateral meeting in Atlanta.Separately, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Trump was still willing to meet Kim Jong-un, provided Pyongyang was prepared to discuss matters of concern to Washington and its allies.No meeting between the two leaders has been arranged so far, Yonhap reported.
