The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has made public the Jan. 6 launch of its latest hypersonic ballistic missile, which will “reliably deter any rivals in the Pacific region that may affect the security of the state.” The launch was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). According to KCNA, the engine housing of the hypersonic missile features a new composite material reinforced with carbon fibers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reported to have watched the test remotely. According to Kim, North Korea’s new hypersonic missile “can effectively overcome any missile defense system in the world” and “only a few countries” possess such a weapon system.
According to Pyongyang, the missile flew about 1,500 kilometers at 12 times the speed of sound.
South Korean military commanders say the missile traveled about 1,100 kilometers and fell into the Sea of Japan. “In our assessment, North Korea’s claim of range and second peak altitude is very likely a hoax,” Col. Lee Sung-joon, a spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing. The Joint Chiefs of Staff suggested that North Korea may have received technical support for the development of these weapons from Russia.
