North Korea has tested a dispersal warhead designed for a strategic cruise missile, claiming it can devastate a target area of up to 6 hectares. The test also assessed the missile’s ability to strike targets vertically, as Pyongyang continues to expand its range of weapons systems.The tests were conducted on Monday, November 2, and overseen by Full Gen. Kim Jong-sik, a member of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s Central Military Commission, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).North Korea’s Warhead Institute, which operates under its Missile Administration, said the medium-sized dispersal warhead could turn an area of 5 to 6 hectares into ashes at what it described as the highest-density power.The country’s Cruise Missile System Institute also reported improvements to the missile’s terminal maneuverability, saying the changes had established its ability to conduct vertical strikes while accounting for the natural and geographical characteristics of the target area.Cruise missile gains vertical strike capabilityThe reported test involved two assessments: the destructive power of the dispersal warhead and the missile’s flight characteristics during a vertical strike. North Korea did not provide details about the missile’s range, flight profile or the technical changes behind the claimed improvement.A dispersal warhead is designed to release multiple smaller explosive devices, known as submunitions, over a wider area. Such weapons can threaten several targets within the affected zone rather than concentrating their effects on a single point.The Missile Administration’s director described the tests as a demonstration of “practical combat power.” The official also said developing different weapon systems was increasingly urgent, arguing that the country’s armed forces needed to defend national security and deter external threats.Cluster warheads expand weapons optionsThe cruise missile test followed another weapons trial on Saturday, October 31, when North Korea tested a cluster warhead designed for tactical ballistic missiles.KCNA reported that the standard Type 2 cluster warhead could devastate an area of 12 to 13 hectares at its highest density. That figure is separate from the 5-to-6-hectare area claimed for the dispersal warhead tested on Monday.North Korea’s Missile Administration said its cluster warheads fall into four categories, depending on their intended purpose. An official said the country planned to make the different types available to military units by the end of 2026, allowing them to select weapons based on operational requirements and target characteristics.The two tests indicate that Pyongyang is working on dispersal warheads for both tactical ballistic missiles and strategic cruise missiles. However, the claims about their destructive power and improved flight capabilities come from North Korean state media and have not been independently verified.North Korea has also tested other weapons systems in recent weeks, including attack drones, a precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile. The latest trials add to its efforts to broaden the capabilities of its armed forces.