North Korea claims successful test of missile with multiple warheads.

North Korea asserts it successfully tested a multiwarhead missile, potentially capable of overwhelming US missile defenses, despite South Korea and Japan reporting the launch ended in failure.

According to state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang conducted a test of individual mobile warheads on Wednesday, successfully guiding them to three designated targets and verifying a decoy through radar.

The test aimed to achieve MIRV capability, enabling multiple warheads on a single ballistic missile. North Korea under Kim Jong Un has been advancing its military modernization, as outlined in a 2021 ruling party meeting where he also mentioned spy satellites, solid-fuel ICBMs, hypersonic weapons, and submarine-launched missiles.

Ankit Panda, senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, anticipated this MIRV test following North Korea's modernization agenda. He noted it as an initial evaluation, expecting further tests toward an ICBM launch.

The presence of decoys is crucial as North Korea aims to challenge US homeland missile defenses, likely incorporating them into single-warhead missiles as well, Panda added.

The KCNA report followed South Korea's military announcement of a possible hypersonic weapon launch by North Korea that exploded midair, with Japan reporting debris falling off its east coast.

South Korea and the US jointly analyzed the incident, concluding the missile exploded early in flight, contrary to KCNA's description.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-joon dismissed North Korea's claims as deceptive, suggesting photos released were likely fabricated or reused.

The launch drew condemnation from South Korea, the US, and Japan, citing violations of UN Security Council resolutions and posing a serious threat. They cautioned against further provocations following Kim Jong Un's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where a mutual defense pact was signed.

This test marked North Korea's first weapons launch since simulating a preemptive attack on South Korea with nuclear-capable rocket launchers nearly a month ago.

In response to cross-border tensions, North Korea has also sent balloons filled with trash into South Korea, reciprocating political leaflets sent by South Korean activists. South Korea responded with border area loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in years on June 9.