During the test on Wednesday, the North Korean Missile Administration "successfully conducted the separation and orientation control test of individual moving warheads," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
North Korea said the test was aimed at "ensuring MIRV capability," referring to independent multiple target reentry vehicle technology, which allows a single ballistic missile to launch multiple warheads at different targets.
The announcement contradicts South Korea's assessment that the missile exploded in midair, Yonhap news agency reported.
On Wednesday, South Korea said the missile was launched from an area in or around Pyongyang around 5:30 a.m. but it exploded over the East Sea after flying about 250 kilometers.
However, North Korea said the test "used the first stage engine of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile within a radius of 170 to 200 kilometers."
The separate mobile warheads were correctly guided to three coordinates of the target, the KCNA said.
The effectiveness of a decoy separate from the missile was also verified by anti-aircraft radar, he added.
The test was supervised by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, the ministry said. KCNA.
The officials emphasized that improving "MIRV capability is a very important defense technological task and a top priority of the WPK Central Committee," KCNA reported, suggesting it could also be a top priority for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The development of MIRV technology was included in North Korea's five-year development plan, which was unveiled during the WPK's eighth congress in January 2021.
North Korea stated that "the test is part of the administration's normal activities," KCNA said.
This is the first time North Korea has publicly revealed that it conducted a missile test to ensure multiple warhead capability.
South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
North Korea said the test was aimed at "ensuring MIRV capability," referring to independent multiple target reentry vehicle technology, which allows a single ballistic missile to launch multiple warheads at different targets.
The announcement contradicts South Korea's assessment that the missile exploded in midair, Yonhap news agency reported.
On Wednesday, South Korea said the missile was launched from an area in or around Pyongyang around 5:30 a.m. but it exploded over the East Sea after flying about 250 kilometers.
However, North Korea said the test "used the first stage engine of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile within a radius of 170 to 200 kilometers."
The separate mobile warheads were correctly guided to three coordinates of the target, the KCNA said.
The effectiveness of a decoy separate from the missile was also verified by anti-aircraft radar, he added.
The test was supervised by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, the ministry said. KCNA.
The officials emphasized that improving "MIRV capability is a very important defense technological task and a top priority of the WPK Central Committee," KCNA reported, suggesting it could also be a top priority for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The development of MIRV technology was included in North Korea's five-year development plan, which was unveiled during the WPK's eighth congress in January 2021.
North Korea stated that "the test is part of the administration's normal activities," KCNA said.
This is the first time North Korea has publicly revealed that it conducted a missile test to ensure multiple warhead capability.
South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
