N. Korea tests new ballistic missile with super-large 4.5-ton warhead

A scene of tactical ballistic missile test firing reported by North Korea's Korean Central Television(KCTV) last May/Yonhap News

North Korea has successfully conducted a test launch of a new tactical ballistic missile equipped with a warhead, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July. 2.

The missile, designated “Hwasong-11Da-4.5,” features a 4.5-ton-class super-large warhead and was launched by the General Missile Bureau.

KCNA stated that the objective of the test was to verify flight stability and hit accuracy at a maximum range of 500 kilometers and a minimum range of 90 kilometers. This marks the first time North Korea has publicly disclosed a test launch of a tactical ballistic missile with such a large warhead.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected two ballistic missile launches by North Korea early in the morning the day before. The JCS identified both missiles as short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), specifically Hwasong-11 (KN-23), with a range of 300 to 1,000 kilometers.

The JCS reported that one short-range ballistic missile launched at 5:05 a.m. flew approximately 600 kilometers, while another missile launched at 5:15 a.m. traveled about 120 kilometers. They also indicated that the missile with a 120-kilometer range might have failed during the launch.