North Korea test-fires ballistic missile capable of carrying super-large warhead

North Korean media reported on July 2 that the country had test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead, a day after South Korea said North Korea had conducted two missile launches, one of which may have failed.

According to North Korean media, on July 1, the country successfully launched the Hwasong-11Da-4.5 missile capable of carrying a super-large warhead weighing 4.5 tons.

The test was conducted with a missile equipped with a simulated heavy warhead to verify flight stability and target-hitting accuracy at a maximum range of 500km and a minimum range of 90km, the report said.

The report added that North Korea will conduct another missile test this month to "confirm the flight characteristics, accuracy and explosive power of the super-large warhead at a range of 250km".