North Korea tests 'very large warhead': KCNA

North Korea has carried out its &agrav; the testing of a "very large" designed for a strategic cruise missile, and launched a new type of anti-aircraft missile, reported state media on Saturday.

“The Missile Directorate of (North Korea) conducted a power test of a very large warhead designed for the +Hwasal-1 Ra-3+ strategic cruise missile”, indicated the North Korean agency KCNA.

Pyongyang also carried out a test launch of “a new type of anti-aircraft missile +Pyoljji-1 -2+ in the West Sea”, also known as the Yellow Sea, KCNA added, specifying that the two tests were conducted on Friday.

The South Korean army, for its part, declared that it had detected “several launches of cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles” towards the Yellow Sea on Friday around 3:30 p.m. (06:30 GMT), according to the South Korean agency Yonhap .

She added that she was “closely monitoring” North Korea's military activities, and that in the event of a “provocation” from Pyongyang, “we “We will punish her heavily”, she said.

These two tests are part of the “regular activities of the management and the defense science institutes which are affiliates,” Pyongyang said. “A certain objective was achieved” thanks to the test, continued the same source, without providing further information.

Unlike ballistic missiles, missile tests Cruises are not prohibited by current UN sanctions against Pyongyang.

The monitoring system for these sanctions was dissolved at the end of March, caused by a veto by Moscow in the Security Council.

< p>According to experts, the cruise missiles tested by Pyongyang are intended to be exported to Russia before being used in the war in Ukraine.

< img alt = "kcna via kNS" src = "https://img-4.linternaute.com/opiowcsate5nxncxrhu1lurul4c=/600x/smart/d61025c0787e40f294619aeafc58ba6b/ccmcms- G " /> Photo released on April 20, 2024 by the North Korean agency KCNA showing a test launch of a new type of anti-aircraft missile “Pyoljji-1-2” by the North Korean Missile Directorate, on April 19 April 2024 © KCNA VIA KNS – STR

At the beginning of April, Pyongyang claimed to have tested a new medium-to-long-range hypersonic solid-fuel missile.

State media then broadcast a video of its launch under the gaze of North Korean number one Kim Jong Un.

Since the beginning of the year, the nuclear-armed country has called South Korea its “main enemy”, closed agencies dedicated to reunification and inter-Korean dialogue and threatened to go to war for any violation of its territory “even if only by 0.001 millimeter”.

All rights of reproduction and representation reserved. © (2024) Agence France-Presse