India, Nov. 1 -- North Korea reportedly tested a cluster-bomb warhead designed to be mounted on tactical ballistic missiles on Saturday to "assess adaptation to combat and power of a cluster-bomb warhead to be tipped on tactical ballistic missiles."

The test comes after the nuclear state trialled a range of weaponry including attack drones, a new precision-guided torpedo system and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile. Tensions between North and South Korea have been peaking in recent weeks following a landmine explosion along the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas.

A cluster bomb typically releases dozens to hundreds of smaller explosive submunitions, allowing it to strike multiple targets across a wide area. This make...