North Korea’s recent missile launch, which failed early Wednesday, might have been a hypersonic weapon, according to South Korean intelligence. The missile was launched around 5:30 AM local time from near Pyongyang, reaching an altitude of about 100km and flying eastward for over 200km before exploding midair off North Korea’s east coast.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) noted the possibility of a hypersonic missile due to the observed characteristics of the launch, including significant smoke and potential combustion issues. The missile appeared to be solid-fuelled, which aligns with North Korea’s ongoing efforts to develop advanced weapons systems, including hypersonic missiles, as part of their military modernization plans announced by Kim Jong Un in 2021.
The test follows North Korea’s recent strategic cooperation treaty with Russia and the arrival of the US aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt in South Korea for joint military exercises. Regional tensions have been escalating with North Korea’s accelerated weapons testing and the US and South Korea’s expanded military training and trilateral drills involving Japan. North Korea has responded with threats and increased defenses along its border, further heightening regional instability.
