S. Korean military dismisses N.K. claim of successful multiple-warhead missile test

South Korea's military on Thursday dismissed North Korea's claim of successfully conducting a multiple-warhead missile test earlier this week as a form of "deception," reaffirming its assessment the missile exploded in the air. Earlier in the day, the North said it conducted a successful missile test Wednesday aimed at securing multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities, contradicting South Korea's earlier assessment the launch ended in failure. "North Korea's missile launched yesterday exploded in an early stage of the flight," Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), told reporters in a briefing. "North Korea made a different announcement this morning but (we) believe that this is merely a method of deception and exaggeration." Lee said photos released by the North this morning of the missile launch appeared to be similar to its launch of the Hwasong-17 liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched in March 2023. "North Korea failed in its last space rocket launch and failed again yesterday, and (we) believe that there is a motive to cover these up," he said, noting that both South Korea and the United States assessed Wednesday's launch as a failure. In its announcement, the North said the test used the "first-stage engine of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile within a 170-200 kilometers radius" and the separated warheads were guided correctly to three targets. South Korea's military earlier said the North launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea but the missile exploded in midair after traveling some 250 kilometers, with fragments scattering over the sea. MIRV technology allows a ballistic missile to deliver multiple warheads to different targets. It is largely associated with ICBMs due to its strategic use. Source: Yonhap News Agency