Kim highlighted that the missile’s development is intended to bolster North Korea’s nuclear deterrence, describing it as a “cornerstone of strategic defense….reports Asian Lite News
North Korea has claimed its new hypersonic missile system can “reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region,” signaling a bold assertion of its military capabilities.
On Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea successfully test-fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) equipped with a hypersonic warhead, citing the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
During the test conducted the previous day, the missile reportedly traveled approximately 1,500 kilometers at a speed 12 times faster than sound, monitored by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un via a dedicated system.
Kim emphasized that the missile’s development aims to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear deterrence, calling it a “linchpin of strategic deterrence” and a weapon system that “no one can respond to.”
According to KCNA, Kim further stated, “The hypersonic missile system will deal a serious military strike to a rival while effectively breaking any dense defensive barrier, securing the safety of our state.”
The KCNA reported that the hypersonic glide vehicle atop the IRBM reached its first peak at an altitude of 99.8 kilometres and a second at 42.5 kilometres, successfully completing a 1,500-kilometre flight path and striking its designated target in the sea.
This missile test, North Korea’s first provocation in roughly two months, occurred less than two weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
However, the South Korean military dismissed the North’s claim as a “deception,” saying there was no second peak.
“The flight range analysed by South Korea, the US and Japan was around 1,100 kilometre and (the missile) did not reach a second peak,” JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-un told a regular press briefing, noting the North has a track record of “exaggerating,” Yonhap reported.
“North Korea probably intended to flex its muscle against the United States. As it said the latest launch was a test-firing, the weapons system does not appear to be completed, pointing to demand (to further develop) in terms of military technology,” an official at South Korea’s unification ministry told reporters.
Notably, North Korea fired a hypersonic missile into the East Sea on Monday. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported detecting the launch of a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from the Pyongyang area around noon yesterday.
The missile travelled approximately 1,100 kilometres before landing in the sea, Yonhap reported.
Although the missile’s flight range was below the typical 3,000 to 5,500 kilometres covered by IRBMs, a JCS official had noted that it appeared to share features with North Korea’s intermediate-range hypersonic missiles tested in January and April last year.
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