North’s cluster munitions test calls for stronger preparedness

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North’s cluster munitions test calls for stronger preparedness

Published: 10 Apr. 2026, 00:00

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Citizens watch news coverage on a TV at Seoul Station on the afternoon of April 8, after North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the East Sea in two rounds. Pyongyang carried out a total of three tests using projectiles over two days starting April 7. [NEWS1]

North Korea has claimed it successfully tested cluster munitions that disperse submunitions in midair as well as electromagnetic pulse weapons designed to disable power systems. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that evaluation tests conducted between Monday and Wednesday confirmed the weapons could devastate a target area of 6.5 to 7 hectares (16 to 17 acres).

Cluster munitions, referred to by North Korea as “dispersion bombs,” release multiple explosive devices over a wide area. The weapons have been widely criticized for their indiscriminate nature, with the international community urging restraint in their use. Electromagnetic weapons that can disable power grids also raise concerns over potential violations of international law, including conventions that prohibit attacks on civilians during wartime.

North Korea’s decision to highlight these capabilities at this moment may reflect lessons drawn from recent conflicts. Observers suggest Pyongyang could be signaling its military strength ahead of a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next month. Reports that cluster munitions were used effectively in the Iran conflict, reportedly penetrating Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, may have reinforced this calculation. The message appears to be twofold: that North Korea should not be treated like Iran and that it retains the capacity to threaten South Korea and U.S. forces stationed on the peninsula.

Regardless of the motive, North Korea’s evolving conventional weapons capabilities should not be underestimated. The country has already deployed long-range cruise missiles that require sophisticated three-dimensional mapping and significant resources. It has also developed ballistic missiles capable of maneuvering in multiple directions during their terminal phase, complicating interception efforts by South Korea and U.S. forces.

At the same time, North Korea continues to modernize its military hardware, including new tanks, nuclear-powered submarines and 5,000-ton-class destroyers. These developments challenge assumptions that South Korea maintains overwhelming superiority in conventional arms, despite its position as one of the world’s leading defense powers.

Given these trends, complacency would be a mistake. South Korea must accelerate the development of its Korea Air and Missile Defense system and expand efforts to build cost-effective laser-based defense networks. While maintaining a stable security environment that discourages the use of such weapons remains important, it is equally critical to ensure the capability to impose decisive costs in the event of conflict.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.