Seoul: North Korea announced on Wednesday that it has achieved a milestone in its missile development program, boasting the successful launch of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) equipped with a hypersonic warhead. The country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, reportedly oversaw the testing of the Hwasong-16 missile, as stated by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
This recent launch follows North Korea’s test of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile in January, with a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new IRBM carrying a hypersonic warhead conducted last month, according to Yonhap news agency.
Kim Jong-un hailed the Hwasong-16 missile as a “powerful, strategic offensive weapon,” declaring that North Korea has achieved the capability to outfit all developed missiles with solid-fuel propulsion, warhead control, and nuclear capability, as reported by KCNA.
Hypersonic missiles, renowned for their difficulty to intercept with existing defense systems, travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound). They are engineered to navigate unpredictable flight paths and fly at low altitudes, presenting significant challenges for interception.
VIDEO: Korean Central Television (KCTV) broadcasted footage of North Korea successfully testing the new "Hwasong-16B" hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/VNdhLAeyyK
— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) April 3, 2024