Afghan accounts spread fake missile test claim using North Korean missile pictures

Afghanistan’s recent claim of conducting a successful missile test has been proven false after investigations revealed that the image used in viral social media posts was actually from North Korea’s 2023 missile drills. This incident adds to a growing list of misleading reports being Afghan sources online.

The Afghan government has once again been caught spreading false claims, their announcement of a successful missile test has also proven to be fake.

During the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spread of baseless, fake, misleading, and false news continues.

It is not only about fake social media accounts posting fake news , but also officials from the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban themselves who are contributing to the circulation of such misinformation.

🔺🇵🇰❌ Taliban:
Afghanistan claims a fake 400km range missile test, officially showing a North Korean missile. pic.twitter.com/m2cCKboEsf

— Tactical Tribune (@TacticalTribun) October 17, 2025

Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid falsely claimed that Pakistan's military tanks were captured by Afghan forces. Now, new reports have surfaced on social media regarding an alleged Afghan missile test.

Several accounts on social media platforms have shared a picture of a missile, claiming that Afghanistan’s defense forces successfully tested a missile capable of hitting targets up to 400 kilometers away.

A reverse image search of the shared photo revealed that it actually belongs to North Korea’s long-range cruise missile test conducted in February 2023.

In February 2023, North Korea’ launched four “Hwasal-2” cruise missiles, according to Al Jazeera. Pyongyang's state news agency released official images. Later, Afghan social media accounts used one of these photos to spread a false claim about Afghanistan’s own missile test.