North Korea Tests New Weapons System as Photos Point to Hypersonic Missile
North Korea said Tuesday that it successfully tested a new weapons system of “great significance,” while photographs released by state media appear to show an upgraded hypersonic missile previously displayed by Pyongyang. The Sept. 20 test took place under leader Kim Jong Un, who watched the launch alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. South Korea’s […]
On September 20, North Korea conducted a missile test under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un, who watched alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. The test, described by state media as possessing "great significance," was identified by images released by the regime as the Hwasongpho-11Ma-1, a hypersonic short-range ballistic missile.
South Korean military reported that North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area on the east coast, with the projectiles traveling approximately 440 kilometers (273 miles) and over 600 kilometers (373 miles). North Korea did not initially disclose the weapon's identity, but a monitoring screen in the photographs labeled the system as the Hwasongpho-11Ma-1.
Defense analysts have confirmed the missile as a hypersonic short-range ballistic missile, consistent with previous claims by North Korea. The missile's flight range remains unverified due to discrepancies between North Korean broadcast data and South Korean radar tracking. North Korea claims the test advanced its weapons technology, demonstrating progress in military modernization and enhancing its war-readiness.
Kim Jong Un asserted that the test would complicate the "incurable headache" of its enemies. Kim Ju Ae attended the test as a public appearance alongside her father at a major weapons event. South Korean military stated that the two missiles were fired about three hours apart and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. However, South Korea initially classified the projectiles as short-range ballistic missiles, while further analysis indicated the possibility of hypersonic flight technology.
The monitoring screen provided the clearest indication of the tested system, detailing the flight time, speed, altitude, and distance of the missile. Although North Korean state media presented these figures, their accuracy remains unverified. Analysts have cautioned that Pyongyang's announcements should be scrutinized rigorously due to the potential for manipulated telemetry figures.
The Hwasong-11Ma test also aligns with North Korea's broader effort to develop maneuverable missiles, complicating missile-defense calculations.
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