North Korea announced on Monday that it had successfully test-fired a new ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead, the latest advance in the development of advanced weapons.
The launch was North Korea's first known weapons test of the year and the first-ever test of a solid-fuel hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which was detected by Seoul's military on Sunday afternoon.
A brief report in state media said the solid-fuel IRMB was “equipped with a controlled warhead capable of maneuvering at hypersonic speeds.”
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the purpose of the test was to verify the warhead's “gliding and maneuvering characteristics” and the “reliability of the newly developed multi-stage high-thrust solid-fuel engine.”
KCNA said Sunday's launch “has not affected the security of neighboring countries and has nothing to do with the regional situation.”
But it came just days after North Korea conducted live-fire exercises near its tense maritime border with South Korea, which led to counter-drills and evacuation orders for some South Korean border islands.
It also comes after Kim branded Seoul his “main enemy” last week and warned that he would not hesitate to annihilate South Korea while touring a major weapons factory.
South Korea's Defense Ministry condemned the launch and said it would take an “overwhelming response” if North Korea made a “direct provocation” against South Korea.
“This action by North Korea is a clear provocation that violates United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting the use of ballistic missile technology, and we strongly warn and urge it to cease immediately,” the statement added. .
Solid-fuel missiles are easier to hide and faster to launch, and hypersonic missiles typically allow the missile to be manipulated during flight to better hit targets. Both technologies have long been on Kim's list of goals.
“North Korea appears to be simultaneously developing hypersonic missiles and IRBMs that use solid-fuel rocket boosters,” said Jang Yong-geun, a missile expert at the Korea National Strategic Studies Institute.
KCNA published one photo of the missile launch in a report on Monday, but did not mention that Kim was present to oversee the test.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest point in decades after Kim enshrined permanent nuclear status in the constitution and launched several advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). .
Meanwhile, traditional allies Russia and North Korea have recently strengthened ties, with Kim making an unusual overseas trip to meet President Vladimir Putin in Russia's Far East in September.
Last year, North Korea successfully placed a reconnaissance satellite into orbit with help from Russia, which South Korea claims was in exchange for Russia's arms shipments for the war in Ukraine.
Despite difficult economic conditions, North Korea conducted a record series of weapons tests in 2023, including its first solid-fuel ICBM, in what experts called a major technological breakthrough.
