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North Korea has announced the successful launch of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead, asserting that it will “reliably contain any rivals” in the Pacific region. This missile test, which occurred on Monday, marked Pyongyang’s first launch in two months, coinciding with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Seoul for talks with South Korean leaders.
Hypersonic weapons, known for their ability to travel at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, are challenging to track and intercept. North Korea has stated that the missile reached 12 times the speed of sound, covering a distance of approximately 1,500 kilometers. However, South Korea’s military reported the missile flew 1,100 kilometers before crashing into the sea, condemning the launch as a “clear act of provocation.”
This marks another hypersonic missile test by North Korea. Images released by state news agency KCNA suggest the missile fired on Monday closely resembles one launched in April of the previous year. However, Pyongyang claims that the latest missile incorporates an upgraded “flight and guidance control system” and features a new carbon fiber-based engine.
Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, stated that Monday’s test clearly demonstrated the nation’s readiness to defend its interests by any means necessary, according to KCNA. Nuclear weapons expert Ankit Panda from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that North Korea’s continued development of hypersonic weapons and advanced composite materials was expected, with such materials enhancing missile performance and reliability.
Meanwhile, Blinken met with South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, and reaffirmed the strategic alliance between Washington and Seoul as a “cornerstone of peace and stability” on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s military has increased surveillance to monitor future North Korean missile launches and is closely coordinating information with the U.S. and Japan.
This missile test occurred amid significant political turmoil in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol is embroiled in a crisis following his brief attempt to impose martial law in December. Yoon was impeached by lawmakers, stripped of his presidential powers, and now faces potential arrest while the constitutional court deliberates on his removal.
North Korea had previously criticized Yoon’s martial law attempt, labeling it an “insane act” and accusing him of using “fascist dictatorship” tactics against his own people.
North Korea, known for its repressive regime, remains one of the world’s most totalitarian states. Kim Jong Un and his family have maintained a dynastic dictatorship over the country, reinforcing a cult of personality around their rule.
The most recent missile test by North Korea before this launch took place in November, a day before the U.S. presidential election, when at least seven short-range ballistic missiles were fired off the east coast. Earlier that week, a U.S. long-range bomber participated in trilateral military drills with South Korea and Japan, showcasing military strength and provoking criticism from Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong.
