Pyongyang, April 20 -- North Korea confirmed on Monday that it has successfully test-fired upgraded tactical ballistic missiles equipped with cluster warheads, an exercise personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.

According to a Kyodo News report citing the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a total of five "Hwasongpho-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles struck the target area about 136 kilometres away" during the Sunday drills.

This latest demonstration of military hardware was detected by neighbouring monitors, though initial assessments of the launch platform varied. While Pyongyang identified the projectiles as land-based, authorities in Japan and South Korea noted that several short-range missiles origina...