Kim Jong Un observes test-firing of cluster bomb ballistic missiles with daughter Ju Ae

North Korea's state media, as reported by the Hankyoreh, has announced that Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test-firing of tactical ballistic missiles fitted with cluster munitions, a type of weapon often referred to as 'steel rain' due to its devastating, wide-area impact. The missiles, designated 'Hwasong-11Ra,' were launched on April 19th and successfully struck a target island 136 kilometers away, demonstrating a significant increase in precision and saturation capabilities.

This test is particularly noteworthy as it represents North Korea's second demonstration in two weeks of its cluster munition technology. The report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) detailed how the missiles struck an area of 12.5 to 13 hectares, equivalent to approximately 17 to 18 international-sized football pitches, with a high density of submunitions. Kim Jong Un reportedly expressed 'great satisfaction' with the results, emphasizing the importance of enhancing such capabilities for practical military actions.

The use of cluster munitions, which disperse numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area, is a contentious issue internationally. These weapons are banned by an international convention due to their indiscriminate nature and the long-lasting danger posed by unexploded submunitions. However, major military powers, including the United States, Russia, and China, are not signatories to this convention, and neither are North and South Korea.

From a South Korean perspective, as highlighted by the Hankyoreh, these tests are a clear provocation and a violation of international norms, even if North Korea is not bound by the convention. The repeated testing of such inherently indiscriminate weapons underscores Pyongyang's continued development of its missile arsenal and its disregard for global efforts to control weapons of mass destruction. The presence of Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, at these launches, as noted in the report, further fuels speculation about succession and the normalization of her involvement in state affairs.