North Korea claims successful test of multiple warhead missile
North Korea’s official news agency reported a “successful” missile launch with multiple warheads, but South Korea stated it was a hypersonic missile that exploded mid-flight.
According to North Korea’s state-run news agency, the country conducted a test of “separation and control of individual maneuverable warheads” on Wednesday, June 26th.
The agency added on Thursday that “separate warheads hit three designated targets.”
North Korea emphasized achieving the capability to launch multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) using a ballistic missile.
South Korea’s military, in response to the news, reported that North Korea tested what appeared to be a hypersonic missile that exploded after flying approximately 250 kilometers over the Sea of Japan.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at South Korea’s National Institute, told AFP that mastering multi-warhead missile technology is a strategic goal for countries seeking intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
He added that North Korea seems to be incrementally testing this technology over the long term and is now in the early stages of developing multi-warhead missiles.
Concurrently, North Korea launched waste balloons towards South Korea for several consecutive days.
According to South Korea’s military, around 70 balloons mostly landed in northern areas of South Korea on Thursday morning.
As a result of these balloon launches, Incheon Airport near Seoul temporarily closed.
On the other hand, South Korean marines conducted military exercises on Thursday near islands close to the border between the two Koreas.
South Korea resumed military exercises, the first since the 2018 agreement with North Korea. Concurrently, it launched a joint exercise named “Freedom Edge” with the US and Japan, emphasizing ballistic missiles, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and cyber defense.
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