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North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile on Saturday from its east coast, with state media KCNA reporting it flew 1,000 km and was part of a hypersonic strategic weapon drill overseen by Kim Jong Un.
North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile on Saturday from eastern North Korea, and state media KCNA reported on Sunday that it flew 1,000 km (621 miles) before hitting a target in the sea off the country's east coast.
Kim Jong Un Oversees Hypersonic Weapon Drill
The launch was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un and was part of a drill for troops operating a hypersonic strategic weapon system. KCNA said the drill was intended to train troops and assess the reliability, efficiency and mobility of the country's war deterrent. The report provided additional details about a launch that Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un and a senior official in the ruling Workers' Party, had disclosed on Saturday.
Kim Yo Jong said South Korea and Japan had failed to track the weapon's flight. She said a special wave-like trajectory mode had exposed limitations in their tracking capabilities. She added that the missile could change its flight orbit at low altitude, enabling it to evade tracking from the first skip point.
South Korea's military said on Saturday it had detected a ballistic missile launch by North Korea and assessed the missile had flown more than 700 kilometers (approximately 435 miles) toward the sea off its eastern coast. Japan noted the extended range and the potential threat to its maritime security, while Washington reiterated support for its alliance with South Korea.
North Korea Expands Strategic Missile Tests
According to KCNA on Sunday, Kim Jong Un said Pyongyang must continue efforts to make its enemies recognize the reliability and fatality of its strategic offensive weapons. He reaffirmed that developing its nuclear war deterrent remained essential for national security. The launch was the latest in a series of North Korean weapons tests this year, with more than 10 missile tests carried out.
It came as tensions on the Korean peninsula escalated over a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone last month that seriously wounded South Korean soldiers. Kim Yo Jong issued a sharply worded statement on Friday rejecting Seoul's demand for an apology over the landmine blast. South Korea has blamed North Korea for planting the mines and called for an apology. Kim Yo Jong called Seoul's accusation groundless and said North Korea had not deliberately laid mines targeting South Korean troops.
The launch was described by KCNA as demonstrating the missile's ability to avoid attack through AI-applied low-altitude orbit changes. No speed figures or technical specifications were released, but the statement implies that existing radar and missile-tracking systems could not fully intercept the target. Analysts say the test is likely aimed at signaling deterrence, despite the lack of independent verification of the missile's performance or AI systems.
Regional Security and Surveillance Concerns
The test underscores ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and highlights the need for improved surveillance and defense measures by regional partners. The missile's design and advanced features, such as AI-controlled trajectory changes, remain classified.
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straits_times:North Korea's Kim Yo Jong says intermediate-range missile test was conductedThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
North Korea Kim Jong Un Missile Test Kim Yo Jong Strategic Weapon North Korea Missile Test Intermediate-Range Missile KCNA Statement Korean Peninsula Security Hypersonic Strategic Weapon Korean Peninsula Tensions
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