North Korea claims success in test-launching a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile, saying it can penetrate enemy defenses with greater lethality. The missile was fired from Pyongyang’s outskirts on Monday and flew 1,500km at 12 times the speed of sound before descending to a target in waters off the east coast.
The test utilized carbon fibre composite materials in its engine section, making it lighter yet stronger than traditional aerospace materials like aluminium. Analysts say this technology is rare and only possessed by a few nations, including Russia, China, and the US.
South Korea’s military has questioned the accuracy of North Korea’s claims, estimating the missile’s range to be around 1,100km, with no second peak detected. The country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed that North Korea appears to have made technological progress in its hypersonic weapons program.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed the test as part of the country’s defense efforts, saying it aims to develop a new-type hypersonic missile for self-defense purposes. The development is seen as an attempt to counter the next generation of long-range projectiles that are difficult to track and intercept.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/7/north-korea-says-test-of-new-hypersonic-missile-successful