North Korea tests cluster-bomb warheads, plans four types

North Korea said it tested cluster-bomb warheads designed for tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday and plans to make four types available to military units by the end of 2026. The account came from the country’s state media, which said the test assessed the warheads’ combat adaptability and destructive capability. A North Korean Missile Administration official said the warheads are divided into four categories based on their intended purposes. The official said units would be able to select and use all four types according to operational aims and target characteristics by year-end 2026. The state media report said a Standard Type 2 warhead could destroy a target area of 12 to 13 hectares under its highest-density conditions. That figure is an official assessment; the reports did not provide independent measurements of the test’s effects. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it tracked activities before the launch and maintained readiness. South Korean military reporting placed the missile’s launch near Chongju, in the country’s northwest, and said it was fired toward the Yellow Sea. The military statement said South Korea and the United States shared information...