North Korea says successfully tests ballistic missile capable of carrying super-large warhead
North Korea says it has successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a “super-large warhead” following a recent joint military exercise by South Korea, Japan and the United States.
The Hwasongpho-11Da-4.5 missile is said to be capable of carrying a 4.5 ton-class super-large warhead.
"The test-fire was conducted with a missile tipped with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at the maximum range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) and the minimum range of 90 kilometers," the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday.
Pyongyang will test fire the missile again this month "to verify flight characteristics, hit accuracy and explosion power of super-large warhead at the medium range of 250 kilometers", according to KCNA.
Meanwhile, South Korea questioned North's reports of a successful test, saying they were likely a "lie" and that one of the missiles appeared to have failed in the early stages of flight.
The South’s military claimed that missile's trajectory suggested a possible mid-air explosion over North Korea.
"It is extremely rare for test launches to be conducted inland, and the claim that they succeeded in such a launch is likely to be false," Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun told reporters Tuesday.
The Monday test launches took place as North Korea criticized the joint military exercises held by Seoul, Tokyo and Washington last month.
North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement that such drills show the relationship among the trio has developed into "the Asian version of NATO", warning of "fatal consequences."
It also vowed that the country will protect regional peace with a overwhelming response.
Pyongyang, which has been under harsh sanctions by the United States and the United Nations Security Council for years over its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs, says such military maneuvers amount to a rehearsal for invasion.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has repeatedly said his government is building up its military arsenal in preparation for war by the West that could "break out at any time" on the peninsula.
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