South Korea test-flies its hypersonic weapon

South Korea successfully flight-tested its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon on Thursday, designed to travel at least five times the speed of sound. This development brings Seoul closer to potentially game-changing capabilities in defense. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung witnessed the test and emphasized it as a significant step in bolstering the country's conventional defense, according to a statement.

The weapon was reported to have separated from its booster rocket at the designated altitude, then maneuvered both vertically and horizontally before reaching a test target. Once fully developed, the weapon aims to strike key targets in a surprise attack on the Korean Peninsula. Tensions between the Koreas have recently escalated after three South Korean soldiers sustained injuries from mine explosions near the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, which North Korea has denied responsibility for.

North Korea has ramped up its weapons testing, with its leader Kim Jong Un expanding its nuclear program and taking a tougher stance towards South Korea. This has resulted in a setback for President Lee, who had advocated for dialogue with North Korea and aimed to reduce reliance on the U.S. The North's latest hypersonic missile test, described by Kim Yo Jong as traveling over 1,000 kilometers, was reportedly detected by South Korea and Japan to have covered distances of over 700 and 680 kilometers, respectively.