According to KCNA, the official North Korean agency, this is a major technological breakthrough. North Korea successfully tested a hypersonic glider missile on Tuesday (September 29th), KCNA said on Wednesday.
The success of this test is “Of great strategic importance” as Pyongyang seeks to “Multiply by a thousand” its defense capabilities, KCNA said.
Hypersonic missiles are much faster than conventional ballistic or cruise missiles. They are also much more difficult to detect and intercept by missile defense systems, on which the United States spends billions of dollars.
“Different flight characteristics”
The South Korean army had announced the launch of a projectile by the North shortly after detecting it Tuesday morning. But unlike usual, she did not disclose the maximum altitude reached by the missile or the distance traveled, information that Seoul generally makes public within the hour.
According to South Korean media, the projectile launched by North Korea on Tuesday had “Different flight characteristics” previous ones. South Korean President Moon Jae-In called for a “Comprehensive analysis” of the event.
The trial, carried out from Jagang province, in the north of the country, “Confirmed the control of navigation and stability of the missile” in the same way “The maneuverability of its guidance system and the gliding characteristics of the detached hypersonic warhead”, KCNA said.
Pyongyang had already carried out several other missile hits this month, one involving long-range cruise missiles and another, according to the South Korean military, short-range ballistic missiles.
On Monday, before the UN, the North Korean ambassador defended the law “Legitimate right” of his country to test weapons. “We are only strengthening our national defense capabilities, in order to defend ourselves and reliably guarantee the security and peace of the country”, he said. The US State Department immediately condemned this missile fire.
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