North Korea fires multiple missiles in fourth launch in a month, after new cluster warheads

North Korea fired multiple missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, South Korea's Ministry of Defense said. According to Stars and Stripes, the launches were detected from the Sondok area, about 170 kilometers northeast of Pyongyang. The ministry did not disclose the number or type of missiles. According to US News, it was the fourth launch in the past month.

US Indo-Pacific Command said the event “does not pose an immediate threat” to US personnel, territory or allies. North Korea's KCNA news agency had not reported the launches by the afternoon.

Cluster warheads

The launch followed two tests that Pyongyang itself announced. On Saturday, according to KCNA, a cluster warhead for a tactical ballistic missile was tested, which can allegedly “turn into ashes” an area of about 12 to 13 hectares. On Monday, a strategic cruise missile with a medium-sized dispersal warhead, covering about five to six hectares, was tested. Such warheads release smaller munitions over the target, so a single missile can hit multiple points.

The tests are taking place as the US and South Korea have been conducting a two-week air exercise over the peninsula since late October. According to the Washington Post, Pyongyang is at the same time protesting against US accusations that it was behind a hacking attack on the crypto exchange Binance.