North Korea confirms it has tested a new hypersonic missile. State news agency KCNA claims the projectile travelled 1,500 kilometres at twelve times the speed of sound.
The new missile should keep “all rivals in check”.
North Korea fired a new hypersonic missile on Monday, just as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting South Korea. The South Koreans immediately recorded the launch and said the missile landed in the sea after about 1,100 kilometres. Japan also confirmed the launch.
It was North Korea’s first missile launch in two months. Dictator Kim Jong-un is said to have personally supervised the launch. North Korea has often caused international unrest by testing missiles. Hypersonic missiles can change course and are thought to be more difficult to shoot down.
The new medium-range ballistic missile, equipped with a hypersonic warhead, would, according to North Korea, “reliably contain all rivals in the Pacific region.”
Pyongyang claims its new hypersonic missile has a new “flight and guidance system” and a new carbon fibre engine. Kim Jong Un said Monday’s launch “clearly showed our rivals what we are up to and that we are fully prepared to use any means to defend our legitimate interests,” state news agency KCNA reported Tuesday.
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