ðə pˌiːˌɑːɹsˈiː hɐz dɪvˈɛləpt ɐn ɪmpɹˈuːvd vˈɛɹiənt ʌvðə dˌiːˈɛf θˈɜːɾi wˈʌn kˈɔːld ðə dˌiːˈɛf θˈɜːɾi wˈʌn ˈeɪ.  ðɪs ʌpɡɹˈeɪdᵻd mˈɪsəl hɐz ɐ ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾᵻd ɹˈeɪndʒ ʌv θˈɜːtiːn,tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd kˌeɪˈɛm, wɪl ɐlˈaʊ tˈɑːɹɡɪɾɪŋ ʌv mˈoʊst əv ðə kˌɑːntɪnˈɛntəl juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ænd wʌz dɪzˈaɪnd wɪð mˈɜːv kˌeɪpəbˈɪlᵻɾi tə hˈoʊld θɹˈiː tə fˈaɪv wˈɔːɹhɛdz, ˈiːtʃ kˈeɪpəbəl əvə nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd kˌeɪtˈiː jˈiːld, bˌʌt ɪz θˈɔːt təbi ˈɑːɹmd wɪð ˈoʊnli wˈʌn wˈɔːɹhɛd wɪð pˌɛnɪtɹˈeɪʃən ænd dˈiːkɔɪ ˈeɪdz tə kˈɑːmplᵻkˌeɪt mˈɪsəl dᵻfˈɛns ˈɛfɚts.
The PRC has developed an improved variant of the DF-31 called the DF-31A.  This upgraded missile has a reported range of 13,200 km, will allow targeting of most of the continental United States and was designed with MIRV capability to hold 3 to 5 warheads, each capable of a 90–400 kt yield, but is thought to be armed with only one warhead with penetration and decoy aids to complicate missile defense efforts.