North Korean leader oversees third hypersonic missile test

Asia-Pacific, News January 13, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test of the third hypersonic missile on January 11, called for strengthening the country’s strategic military forces

North Korean state media reported on January 12 that it was the first official participation by the country’s leader in a missile launch in nearly two years.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that after observing the missile test, Kim Jong Un urged military scientists to “further accelerate the efforts to steadily build up the country’s strategic military muscle both in quality and quantity and further modernize the army.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was quoted by KCNA as saying that the launch of the missile “brought a great success in the field of developing hypersonic weapon which is of the most important strategic significance.”

*^{North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes the test of the country’s third hypersonic missile on January 11, 2022. (Image Credit: KCNA)}*

“The superior maneuverability of the hypersonic glide vehicle was more strikingly verified through the final test-fire… The test-fire was aimed at the final verification of overall technical specifications of the developed hypersonic weapon system,” KCNA added.

According to KCNA, the missile that was launched on January 11 made a successful turn before hitting a target in the sea some 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away. The report said the glide missile made a 600-kilometer (375-mile) “glide jump flight” before hitting its target, followed by a 240-kilometer spiral maneuver.

The launch was detected at around 7.27 AM from North Korea’s Jagang province into the ocean off its east coast, the same site as last week’s test.

*^{North Korea test-fires its third hypersonic missile on January 11, 2022. (Image Credit: KCNA)}*

North Korea launched its first hypersonic missile in September 2021 featuring a glider-shaped warhead, while on January 5, 2022, it test-fired a second hypersonic missile into the East Sea. According to South Korean military officials, the launch involved a conical maneuverable reentry vehicle, or a ballistic missile warhead capable of maneuvering to strike its target. The latest launch marks North Korea’s third hypersonic missile test.

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According to experts, the North Korean leader’s presence during the launch suggests that the country has improved its hypersonic technology.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier said in a statement that preliminary estimates found that the missile traveled more than 700 kilometers (435 miles) at up to 10 times the speed of sound (12,348 kilometers per hour), with a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-choul said, “We assess that this is more advanced than the missile North Korea fired on Jan. 5, though South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting detailed analysis.”