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North Korea has successfully tested a hypersonic gliding missile, state media reported Wednesday, in what would be the nuclear-armed nation’s latest advance in weapons technology.
Tuesday’s launch was of “great strategic significance”, the official Korean Central press agency said, because the North seeks to extend its defence capabilities a “thousand-fold”.
Hypersonic missiles move far faster and are more nimble than ordinary ones, making them much harder for missile defence systems — on which the US is spending billions — to intercept.
The launch from Jagang province “confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile”, along side its “guiding manoeuverability and therefore the refore the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead” and the engine, consistent with KCNA.
“The test results proved that each one the technical specifications met the planning requirements”, it added.
The South’s military had announced the launch shortly after it happened on Tuesday, but it didn’t officially reveal the missile’s maximum altitude and flight distance afterwards, information that it normally makes available within but an hour.
South Korean media reports cited unidentified sources saying the device showed “different flight features” from previous launches and President Moon Jae-in involved “comprehensive analysis” of the event.
Both Koreas are build up their weapons capabilities in what could become an race on the divided peninsula.
The nuclear-armed North, which invaded the South in 1950, is under multiple international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and missile programmes, and earlier this month said it tested a long-range aircraft .
Seoul is additionally spending billions on military development and this month successfully test-fired a submarine-launched missile (SLBM) for the primary time, making it one among a couple of countries with the advanced technology.
