North Korea on Monday claimed it successfully launched a new
hypersonic ballistic missile. According to the state media on
Tuesday, the missile flew 932 miles at 12 times
the speed of sound, reaching as high as 62
miles before hitting its target. The missile launch comes
less than 2 weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump returns
to office. This is North Korea's first missile launch
since US Election Day last November. KCNA released photos
of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un monitoring the launch with
his daughter. Their report also said that the missile's
engine section used carbon fiber, which is lighter and
harder than other materials used in aerospace, but harder
to make. They said the missile is able to
effectively penetrate any dense defense barrier and inflict a serious
military blow on the opponent. Kim called the missile
a strong weapon against enemy threats and the changing regional
environment. South Korea and the US condemned the launch
. The South's acting president called the launch a serious
threat to regional and global security. Seoul's military called
the North's claims exaggerated, saying it did not fly
as far as the North claimed. It also coincided
with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's visit to South
Korea, who warned of Pyongyang's deepening ties with Moscow
, including illicit cooperation on space and satellite technology.
North Korea has been developing a new solid fuel IRBM
, part of a wider race to develop the next
generation of long range rockets that are difficult to track
and intercept.