North Korea claims new cruise missile warhead can devastate six hectares

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 04, 2026

Photo courtesy: Reuters

North Korea says it has tested a strategic cruise missile equipped with a dispersal warhead capable of striking a target area of up to six hectares, as the country continues developing its weapons systems.

The test was conducted on Monday, November 2, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which announced the results the following day.

North Korea’s Missile Administration said the medium-sized warhead could devastate an area of five to six hectares, equivalent to approximately 12 to 15 acres.

A dispersal warhead is designed to scatter smaller explosives across a target area, allowing a single missile to affect multiple locations.

The test also examined the missile’s ability to strike targets from above. North Korean officials claimed they had improved its maneuverability during the final stage of flight, allowing it to approach targets vertically while accounting for surrounding terrain.

Full Gen. Kim Jong-sik, a member of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, supervised the tests.

The announcement came days after North Korea reported testing a cluster warhead designed for tactical ballistic missiles on October 31.

Pyongyang has also announced plans to make different types of cluster warheads available to its military units before the end of 2026.

North Korean officials described the latest tests as part of efforts to strengthen national defense and improve the country’s military capabilities.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military maintains the ability to respond to potential threats from the North. However, officials acknowledged that detecting cruise missiles at long distances can be difficult under certain conditions.

Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles generally travel at lower altitudes, making them harder to detect.

The latest test highlights North Korea’s continued efforts to expand its missile capabilities amid longstanding tensions on the Korean Peninsula.