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north korea Said on Thursday its latest missile tests included new hypersonic systems, aimed at strengthening its nuclear war deterrent as the leader kim jong un jong u The buildup of weapons to weaken South Korea’s missile defenses continues.
North Korean official’s report Korean Central News Agency A day earlier, South Korea’s military said it had detected multiple missiles fired from an area south of the capital Pyongyang by the North, adding that they had flown about 350 kilometers (217 miles) northeast before falling to the ground.
The test came days before world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi JinpingThe rivals are expected to gather in South Korea for annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.
KCNA said the launch consisted of two hypersonic projectiles that accurately struck a land target in the northern region of the country. It described the systems as strategic, meaning they were designed to be armed with nuclear weapons.
KCNA did not name the new missile system tested. The tests follow a massive military parade in Pyongyang earlier this month, where Kim unveiled some of his military’s latest weapons, including a short-range ballistic system equipped with hypersonic glide vehicles.
North Korea has in recent years been testing various missile systems equipped with hypersonic weapons, which are designed to fly at more than five times the speed of sound. The speed and maneuverability of such weapons are meant to help them evade regional missile defense systems, but experts have questioned whether during testing they have consistently flown at the speeds the North claims.
Pak Jong Chon, one of Kim’s top military officials who participated in Wednesday’s tests, praised the demonstration of the “new cutting-edge weapon system” and said the North would continue efforts to enhance its war deterrent and defense capabilities.
During the October 10 parade, Kim also unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile, described by state media as the country’s most powerful nuclear asset, adding to his growing collection of weapons with a potential range to reach the US mainland. Experts say North Korea could be preparing to test a missile in the coming weeks, ahead of a major ruling party conference in early 2026, when Kim is expected to announce major policy directives — possibly including his approach toward the United States.
Kim has been rapidly increasing the pace of weapons tests since his high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Trump failed in 2019 due to a squabble over US-led economic sanctions.
Wednesday’s launch is North Korea’s first ballistic missile test since South Korea’s moderate President Lee Jae Myung took office in June and promised to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula. But Kim has so far rejected Lee’s offer of talks and said he will not resume diplomacy with the United States unless Washington abandons its goal of denuclearizing the North.
Some experts had predicted that North Korea might conduct a provocative missile test before or during the APEC summit to underline its commitment to seeking international recognition as a nuclear weapons state.