North Korea test-fires new hypersonic missile

Asia-Pacific, News October 1, 2021 , by IRIA 1 Comment

North Korea successfully test-fired a newly developed hypersonic missile “Hwasong-8” on September 28, 2021.

According to North Korean state news media KCNA, the latest launch marks the country’s third missile test in September 2021, following a new type of cruise missile, and a new train-launched ballistic missile system.

Hypersonic weapons are considered the next generation of arms aimed at countering adversaries with increased precision without giving interceptors the time to react and depriving the counter mechanisms.

The North Korean regime attaches great importance to its missile development program, terming the new missile as one of the “five most important” new weapons systems laid out in its five-year military development plan.

According to KCNA, Hwasong-8 was topped with a hypersonic gliding vehicle (HGV) warhead. The hypersonic missile travels at least five times faster than the speed of sound, or Mach 5, and is highly maneuverable. They’re much tougher to track and intercept than intercontinental ballistic missiles, which follow predictable trajectories.

North Korean official news agency said, “the development of this weapons system… [has increased] the nation’s capabilities for self-defense in every way”. North Koreans called the missile a “strategic weapon”, which usually means it has nuclear capabilities.

According to South Korean military officials, North Korea fired the missile off its east coast towards the sea, as the DPRK called on South Korea and the U.S. to stop “double standards” on weapons programs to resume talks.

The U.S. Special Envoy for North Korea Sung Kim called the North Korean hypersonic missile launch a “destabilizing” move for regional security and stated that despite the aggressive move by North Korea, the U.S. and its allies seek to engage in denuclearization talks with the DPRK regime.

North Korea’s latest hypersonic weapon poses a greater challenge to its adversaries and outmatches the missile defense systems that are deployed by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.

However, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed that North Korea’s hypersonic missile “was still at an early stage of development and it will take a considerable period of time before it can be deployed in combat”, and suggested that North Korea might conduct additional test firings in the coming months.

The United States and South Korean officials also claimed that they are currently capable of detecting and intercepting this missile.

In recent months, North Korea has paced efforts to develop its weapons systems amid a stalemate in talks with the U.S. and South Korea, over sanctions relief in return for giving up its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals.

With the latest missile test, the North Korean regime demonstrates its resolve to join the race headed by major military powers to deploy the advanced weapons system.