N. Korea shows missile integration capability with first dual submarine launch

Seoul's military dismissed Pyongyang's doubts regarding South Korea's homegrown hypersonic missile launch, as tensions between the two Koreas heighten the arms race over advanced weaponry. Hypersonic missiles, which fly faster than five times the speed of sound and can maneuver mid-flight, pose a significant challenge for tracking and interception.

Following North Korea's announcement of a hypersonic missile test involving artificial intelligence, Seoul recently conducted a test firing of its own weapon, describing it as a "key strategic asset capable of changing the course of the battlefield."

On October 16, North Korea questioned South Korea's launch, citing photos released by Seoul that purportedly showed the missile failing to achieve a hypersonic flight. However, Jang Chang Ha, head of North Korea's missile administration, found it "hard to believe" the missile had achieved hypersonic flight due to its pristine exterior, intact coating, and absence of soot—indicative of extreme heat encountered during hypersonic travel.

In response, Seoul's military asserted that its weapon possessed a "robust design" utilizing domestically produced heat-resistant materials, ensuring thermal protection and eliminating soot formation even in hypersonic conditions.

Looking ahead, Seoul intends to "further advance the relevant technologies throughout the process of weaponizing" the hypersonic missiles, positioning them as a "key strategic asset for future national security." Experts suggest that North Korea, technically still at war with South Korea, has intensified hypersonic weapon testing, aided by Russia's technological support, particularly since deploying troops to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Pyongyang claimed its latest AI-assisted hypersonic missile followed an "unusual wave-like trajectory," rendering it difficult for South Korea and Japan to track. Nonetheless, both Seoul and Washington maintain that the North Korean weapon could be adequately detected and intercepted using the allies' existing defense assets.

The pursuit of hypersonic weapons by both Koreas is likely to exacerbate an arms race on the peninsula, given their speed and maneuverability, which could complicate detection and interception efforts, potentially impacting US and Japanese defenses. Analysts emphasize the implications of this arms race for regional security dynamics.