IRIA News

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North Korea said it successfully tested a new combat weapon system under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un, describing the test as a demonstration of what it called “ultra-modern defense technology.”

The announcement came after South Korea reported that Pyongyang had launched ballistic missiles from its east coast. North Korea’s Missile Administration conducted the test on Sunday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The agency did not identify the weapon in detail but said the test was significant for the development of the country’s weapons systems and armed forces. Kim said the test demonstrated progress in modernizing North Korea’s military and strengthening its readiness for war.

“The enemy will know better what such progress means without any explanation in the aspect of military technology,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying. North Korean state media also reported that Kim described the system as a major development in the country’s defense technology.

Possible Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 Missile

Photographs released by KCNA showed Kim inspecting a screen displaying a map of North Korea’s east coast and the flight trajectory of a weapon identified as “Hwasongpho-11Ma-1.”

The designation appears to be linked to North Korea’s Hwasongpho-11 series of short-range ballistic missiles. Analysts cited in the report said the weapon could be an upgraded missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle.

A hypersonic glide vehicle is designed to maneuver at high speeds during flight, potentially making it more difficult for existing missile-defense systems to track and intercept. However, North Korea did not officially confirm that the tested weapon was a hypersonic missile.

The screen shown in the photographs indicated a flight distance of about 908.2 kilometers. This was considerably longer than the distances reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which assessed the two launches at about 450 kilometers and 600 kilometers.

The difference has raised questions over whether the distance displayed by North Korea represented the actual flight of the missiles or was presented to show the claimed performance of the system.

South Korea Reports Two Missile Launches

South Korea’s military said on Sunday that North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea.

The launches were detected before North Korea released details of the test. South Korean authorities have been monitoring North Korea’s missile activity as Pyongyang continues to develop different types of ballistic and hypersonic weapons.

North Korea has previously described the development of advanced missile systems as part of its effort to strengthen its military capabilities. Kim’s comments focused on the broader development of North Korea’s armed forces rather than the technical details of the weapon.

KCNA reported that he said the new system was important for the country’s war readiness and the future development of its military. Kim also said the progress would present challenges for North Korea’s opponents, according to state media.

Photographs from the test showed Kim accompanied by his teenage daughter, Ju-ae, as they observed information displayed on a screen during the launch. North Korea has increasingly publicized Kim’s appearances at weapons tests, including tests involving ballistic missiles and other military systems.

Test Amid Regional Tensions

The missile launch came as the UN General Assembly began its high-level general debate in New York and ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.

The test also followed North Korean criticism of U.S. military activities on the Korean Peninsula. On September 21, the foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and the United States met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and agreed to maintain close coordination on peace, stability and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

The latest missile activity therefore comes as the United States, South Korea and Japan continue to coordinate their approach to North Korea while Pyongyang maintains its weapons-development programs.

Continued Development of Advanced Missiles

North Korea has been developing a range of missile systems, including short-range ballistic missiles and weapons it describes as hypersonic.

The Hwasongpho-11 series forms part of North Korea’s growing short-range missile capability. The country has continued to test and modify these systems as it seeks to improve the range, maneuverability, and survivability of its missiles.

The latest test provides limited technical information because North Korea did not disclose the full specifications or identify the exact weapon system. The reported flight distance also differs significantly from the assessment released by South Korea.