North Korea confirmed this week that its latest testing spree included ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads.

That’s a notable escalation in the weapons taxonomy. Cluster munitions scatter submunitions over wide areas — they’re banned under international treaty by over 100 countries (the US and DPRK are not among them). Mounting them on ballistic missiles combines range and penetration with area-denial capability.

Pyongyang framed the tests as part of its ongoing push to expand nuclear-capable forces. Multiple new systems were reportedly involved across the week’s testing schedule.