North Korea Conducts Hypersonic Missile Test Under Kim Jong-un’s Supervision

North Korea has confirmed the test-firing of hypersonic missiles, describing the launch as a major step in strengthening its war deterrent, according to state-run media.

The missiles were launched from the Ryokpo district of Pyongyang and struck targets about 1,000 kilometres away in waters east of the country, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday.

The test was carried out by a fire strike unit of the Korean People’s Army as part of an operational evaluation aimed at assessing the readiness, performance and mobility of the hypersonic weapon system.

Leader Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the launch and said the exercise proved that an “important technological task for national defence” had been successfully completed.

Kim also commended missile units for demonstrating the operational readiness of North Korea’s nuclear forces, noting that recent developments have helped place the country’s nuclear capabilities on a practical footing and prepare them for potential wartime use.