North Korea test-fired what it claimed were “improved” surface-to-surface ballistic missiles armed with cluster bombs and fragmentation mine warheads on Sunday, continuing its pursuit of the controversial weapons that it previously condemned.

Overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Missile Administration of the DPRK carried out test launches to “verify the characteristics and power” of the Hwasong-11D (화성포-11라) missiles, the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Monday.

Accompanied by his daughter and senior military and missile program officials, Kim watched as five “tactical ballistic missiles” were fired toward an island around 85 miles (136 km) away, striking an