The Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted a test-fire on April 19 to evaluate the power of warhead of the improved surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Hwasongpho-11 Ra.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, supervised the test-fire.

Among the viewers were Kim Jong Sik, member of the Central Military Commission of the WPK and first deputy department director of the WPK Central Committee, Full General Jang Chang Ha, general director of the Missile Administration, Lieut. General An Yong Hwan, commander of the 1st Corps of the Korean People's Army, Lieut. General Ju Song Nam, commander of the 2nd Corps of the KPA, Lieut. General Jong Myong Nam, commander of the 4th Corps of the KPA, and Lieut. General Ri Jong Guk, commander of the 5th Corps of the KPA.

The purpose of the test-fire was to verify the characteristics and power of cluster bomb warhead and fragmentation mine warhead applied to the tactical ballistic missile.

Five tactical ballistic missiles, launched towards the target area centring around an island about 136 km away, struck the area of 12.5-13 hectares with a very high density, fully displaying their combat might.

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction over the test results, saying that the development and introduction of cluster bomb warheads of different uses has made it possible to meet the operational demand of the KPA in a more satisfactory and effective way and that it is of weighty significance in practical military actions to boost the high-density striking capability to crush a specific target area as well as the high-precision striking capability.

The current technology and records we have acquired and updated are a valuable result clearly proving that the organization of a group specializing in research into missile warheads and the five years’ efforts were not in vain, he appreciated.

He encouraged the defence science research groups, hoping that they would continuously make successes in the important undertakings to acquire and boost various ultra-modern technical capabilities necessary for the combat preparedness of the KPA.