North Korea Says It Successfully Tested First ‘Hypersonic’ Missile System
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – North Korea said it has successfully tested a new hypersonic missile called Hwasong-8 on Tuesday.
Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) state media outlet reported on Wednesday that a missile tested on Tuesday had a hypersonic glide component.
“In the first test launch, defense scientists confirmed the flight maneuverability and stability of the missile,” Rodong Sinmun and KCNA, North Korean state-run news outlets, reported on Wednesday, noting that Park Jeong-cheon, a high ranking member of the politburo for the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, observed the test alongside defense officials. The test took place the day prior, on September 28.
“As a result of the test, all the technical indicators that were intended were satisfied with the design requirements,” the media said.
The South Korean military had announced the North's launch of a missile on Tuesday, but have not officially specified the type, or how far it had flown, Deutsche Welle reported.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in had ordered a "thorough analysis" of the test launch earlier on Wednesday.
Hypersonic missiles are capable of traveling at least five times speed of sound, and are more difficult to track and intercept.
The KCNA report called the missile a Hwasong 8, saying that it has "great strategic significance," seeming to imply a nuclear capability.
It also said the test launch confirmed the stability and performance of the engine and the "ampoule" fuel system, which KCNA said it was testing for the first time. Ampoule is the Russian term for liquid-propellant missiles that can be fueled during production and then sent to the field in canisters. It means that soldiers do not need to fuel the missiles in the field, potentially during combat, before launch.
KNCA said Pak Jong Chon, a North Korean Marshal and a member of the politburo presidium, attended the launch; it did not mention leader Kim Jong Un.
According to KCNA, Pak "also noted the military significance of turning all missile fuel systems into ampoules."
North Korea's announcement comes after the United States said Tuesday it had successfully tested its own hypersonic missile system, and was moving ahead with plans to make the missiles operational by the US military.
Russia, China and other countries are also developing hypersonic weapons systems.
Meanwhile, South Korea launched a new homegrown submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles on Tuesday.
North Korea has recently resumed testing weapons in defiance of UN and US-led sanctions involving a long-range cruise missile, as well as newly developed rail-borne munition earlier this month. At the close of the UN General Assembly late Monday in New York, Pyongyang's envoy insisted the North had a right to test weapons as a "deterrent."
