North Korea Conducts Intensive Military Drills for Three Consecutive Days; Experts: Hardline Stance Towards South Korea Unchanged

KCNA reported that the tests also included a mobile short-range air defense missile system.

According to the report, these tests were conducted on the 6th, 7th, and 8th, as part of North Korea's regular research and development and upgrading of weapon systems.

South Korean military had earlier stated that North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles in two rounds yesterday and an "unidentified flying object" on the 7th.

According to KCNA, this exercise "confirmed that the Hwasongpho-11 Ka ground-to-ground tactical ballistic missile, equipped with cluster warheads, can turn any target covering an area of 6.5 to 7 hectares into ashes."

Cluster munitions scatter dozens or even hundreds of smaller submunitions over a wide area and are controversial due to the risks they pose to civilians.

Also tested were an "electromagnetic weapon system" and a "carbon fiber dummy bomb dispersal device," which KCNA described as "special assets of strategic nature."

The report noted that the launches also used "low-cost materials" to test the "maximum load capacity" of the engines.

The South Korean military stated that one of the short-range missiles launched in North Korea's second round yesterday flew over 700 kilometers.

Prior to this, North Korea had launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea (Sea of Japan), flying approximately 240 kilometers.

These were North Korea's 4th and 5th known ballistic missile tests this year. Analysts believe that these tests are a message from Pyongyang to Seoul, indicating that despite South Korea's repeated goodwill gestures, North Korea's hardline stance towards South Korea remains unchanged. (Compiled by Xu Ruicheng) 1150409