North Korea claims new hypersonic missile system
North Korea said it test-fired a new “strategic” hypersonic missile system and that two projectiles launched Wednesday “hit the target point” in the country’s northeast, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. South Korea’s military said it detected multiple short-range launches that flew about 217 miles to the northeast before landing, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The shots come days before Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, visit South Korea.
U.S. Forces Korea said it was “fully aware” of the launches and urged Pyongyang to stop “unlawful and destabilizing actions,” adding that the U.S. commitment to the alliance with Seoul remains “ironclad,” AP News reported.
Hypersonic weapons fly at least five times the speed of sound and are designed to maneuver mid-flight, complicating interception. Japan has warned that North Korea’s hypersonic gliding warheads could evade defenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Missile launch
Korean state-run media said the Missile Administration launched two hypersonic projectiles from Pyongyang’s Ryokpho District toward a target on the tableland of Kwesang Peak in Orang County and called the system a “new cutting-edge weapon system” to bolster “strategic deterrence.”
Pak Jong Chon, a senior party official who oversaw the test, praised the program and said activities will continue to “bolster up the war deterrent,” according to KCNA.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs said the launches originated south of Pyongyang and were the first ballistic tests since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, the AP said.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that photos released by Korean state media showed a missile in flight and the moment of impact. Yonhap also noted that the projectiles may match short-range systems displayed at a military parade earlier this month.
North Korea has conducted about a dozen public weapons tests this year, as Kim Jong Un emphasizes qualitative advances, including hypersonic technology, solid-fuel ICBMs and upgraded air defenses.
What’s next
Experts cited by the AP said North Korea could be preparing to test a new intercontinental ballistic missile ahead of a ruling party conference in early 2026. The Journal reported Pyongyang is signaling confidence, seeking recognition as a de facto nuclear state while moving to upgrade conventional forces, even as many capabilities remain far from full deployment.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
