Korea, North
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Policy
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
North Korea did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the convention and has never attended a meeting on cluster munitions or made a public statement on the issue.
North Korea is not party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is also not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
North Korea is not known to have used or exported cluster munitions.
Jane’s Information Group lists North Korea as producing and stockpiling submunition warheads for 122mm, 170mm, and 240mm rockets. Jane’s Information Group also cites the North Korean Air Force as possessing KMGU dispensers (which deploy submunitions), RBK-500 cluster bombs, and unspecified types of anti-armor and anti-runway cluster bombs.[1]
[1] Robert Hewson, ed., Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons, Issue 44 (Surrey, UK: Jane’s Information Group Limited, 2004), p. 841; and Terry J. Gander and Charles Q. Cutshaw, eds., Jane’s Ammunition Handbook 2001–2002 (Surrey, UK: Jane’s Information Group Limited, 2001).