North Korea appears to have launched a suspected hypersonic missile into the Japanese Sea on Monday, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing military sources in Seoul.
The General Staff reported that the launch of the suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was detected around 12 pm local time from the Pjöngyang area, which flew approximately 1,100 kilometers before crashing into the sea.
Although the flight distance of the missile was shorter than the conventional IRBM range of 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers, the South Korean military believes it resembles North Korea’s IRBMs, which are equipped with hypersonic warheads and were launched in January and April of last year.
Hypersonic missiles are considered more difficult to intercept than conventional ballistic missiles, as they can change direction during flight. If confirmed, this would be the farthest distance a North Korean missile of this type has traveled.
South Korean officials warned that the North could be exploiting the political crisis in Seoul through military activities to escalate border tensions. The launch has sparked speculation that it may be aimed at testing the readiness of the South Korean military after the brief imposition of martial law by the now-suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 3 and his subsequent removal from office. The test also occurred during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea.
Hypersonic missiles are among the advanced weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promised to develop at a party congress in 2021, along with submarines with nuclear propulsion, spy satellites, and solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles.