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[Anchor] North Korea conducted its second test this month of the so-called “devil’s weapon,” cluster munitions. For the first time, state media released footage of the munitions detonating. Chairman Kim Jong Un watched the test with his daughter, Ju‑ae. Reporter Park Su‑joo has the story. [Reporter] Dozens of small submunitions fell tightly across an island, sending up circular plumes of spray. North Korean state media released footage of the ballistic missile launch on April 19. Launched from the Sinpo area in South Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea, the missile was an upgraded ground-to-ground tactical missile, designated the Hwasong‑11Ra. Pyongyang said it fired the missile to evaluate the effectiveness of a scatter warhead (cluster munition) and a fragment-mine warhead. The term “scatter warhead” refers to cluster munitions — the so‑called “devil’s weapon” that disperses many small bomblets in flight to maximize damage — and this test follows an earlier cluster-munitions trial on April 8. State media also released footage of the explosions for the first time. After claiming the April 8 Hwasong‑11Ga test devastated an area equivalent to 10 soccer fields, North Korea now says five Hwasong‑11Ra missiles struck an area about the size of 18 soccer fields. “The Hwasong‑11Ra appears to be a scaled-down version of the Hwasong‑11Ga — reduced in diameter and overall size to serve as a tactical ballistic missile for brigade-level use,” said Shin Jong‑woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense & Security Forum. “It looks aimed at strengthening asymmetric capabilities by equipping tactical ballistic missiles with cluster warheads or air-dispersed mine munitions.” The test footage also showed Chairman Kim Jong Un observing the launch with his daughter Ju‑ae, and unusually, front-line corps commanders were mobilized for the event. Korean Central TV reported, “Chairman Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the test results, noting enhanced high-density suppression strike capabilities alongside improved high-precision strike ability.” The Hwasong‑11Ra reportedly flew about 140 kilometers (roughly 87 miles). Launched near the Demilitarized Zone, that range would put Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek within reach. Kim has previously signaled plans at the 9th Party Congress to bolster deployments of multiple rocket launchers and tactical missiles to deter South Korea. Analysts say the tests were likely intended to showcase Pyongyang’s strike capabilities and weapons systems ahead of a U.S.-China summit. This is Park Su‑joo for Yonhap News TV. [Video editing: Park Eun‑jun] [Graphics: Kim Hyung‑seo] For news tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23 Park Su‑joo (sooju@yna.co.kr)
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