Pyongyang rejects Seoul's hypersonic test claims, justifies own arms buildup
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea renewed its attack on South Korea's recen...
North Korea on Friday vehemently disagreed with South Korea's recent hypersonic weapon test, rejecting Seoul's explanation that advanced materials allowed the weapon to avoid visible burn marks. The ongoing dispute highlights the conflicting assessments of the technology showcased in South Korea's first hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) test launch on October 8.
Initially, North Korea doubted the test's success, asserting the vehicle failed to achieve hypersonic speeds due to the absence of soot on its surface. Seoul's defense ministry disagreed, stating that the vehicle was fitted with advanced thermal-protection technology, and visible soot was not necessarily expected during hypersonic flight.
Pyongyang's response on Friday was dismissive, labeling Seoul's explanation "far-fetched." Kim Jong-sik, a vice department head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, stated in a statement, "It's not a matter of heat-resistant materials or thermal protection performance."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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