North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, personally oversaw the test launch of an advanced intermediate-range missile with a hypersonic warhead, as reported by the country's state media.
The missile, named Hwasong-16, was fired from a location near Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un stated that all of North Korea's missile developments now utilize solid fuel technology, making them capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The launch drew international attention, particularly from neighboring Japan and South Korea. Japanese officials confirmed that a ballistic missile was fired into the Sea of Japan, outside of their economic zone. South Korean military sources suggested it could have been a hypersonic weapon.
Hypersonic missiles are known for their exceptional speed, traveling at more than five times the speed of sound, often on unpredictable flight paths.
One advantage of solid-fuel missiles, as opposed to liquid-fueled ones, is their ability to be launched without prior fueling, making detection by other nations more challenging. This enhances North Korea's ability to carry out preemptive strikes or retaliatory actions, according to experts.
North Korea had previously announced successful tests of similar missile technology, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead.
During this latest test, the hypersonic warhead reached two peak altitudes before accurately hitting the designated target area in the Sea of Japan. Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that North Korea's missile capabilities have now reached a new level of sophistication.
This development is seen as a significant advancement in North Korea's military capabilities and is expected to have implications for regional security dynamics.
North Korea Advances Missile Technology with Hypersonic Test
Kim Jong Un Directs Rocket Launcher Tests Aimed at Seoul Amid Rising Tensions