North Korea has flaunted its latest weapons tests, claiming its cruise missile warheads can ‘turn targets into ashes’ across an area of up to six hectares.

The secretive state said it had carried out tests to assess the power of the warhead and improve the missile’s ability to strike targets vertically.

According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the tests were conducted on November 2 as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.

The country’s Warhead Institute claimed the weapon had demonstrated its ability to devastate a targeted area using what it described as its “highest-density” power.

A separate test focused on improving the missile’s ability to change direction during the final stages of flight, taking surrounding terrain into account.

The tests were overseen by Kim Jong-sik, a member of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission and a senior official within its Central Committee.

North Korea’s Missile Administration said developing different weapons had become increasingly “urgent” to protect the country against external threats.

It added that its “middle-sized dispersal warhead tipped on the cruise missile is capable of turning into ashes a target area of five to six hectares”.

Its general director said: “The necessity of developing a variety of weapon systems is more urgent than ever before. It is because our armed forces should defend the security of the country and deter all sorts of threats.

“As today’s tests showed, various combat functions of such strong weapon systems will help defend the DPRK from potential threats from outside and renew the military capabilities of the state.”

The Missile Administration described the tests as part of routine scientific research aimed at improving the power of its weapons systems.

The tests included assessments of both the warhead’s destructive capabilities and the missile’s performance during the final stages of flight.

Read More: North Korea flaunts weapons which ‘turn targets to ashes’ as test photos emerge