North Korea said on Wednesday that its military has completed a successful hypersonic missile test, which has strengthened plans to fully develop the capability in the future.
The state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported executed a successful ground test on Tuesday for a multi-stage solid-fuel engine, a vital component of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile.
The test, conducted at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground near the border with China, was overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as per KCNA. Kim stated during the testing that hypersonic missiles are equally important as intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Hypersonic missiles travel at over five times the speed of sound. While some ballistic missiles can already achieve those speeds, a genuine hypersonic missile is able to maneuver during flight.
North Korea has previously tested hypersonic missile capabilities, including a test in 2021 for a gliding warhead, which is a type of warhead capable of maneuvering and gliding at hypersonic speeds.
Following this week’s test, North Korea’s KCNA stated that “a timetable for completing the development of the new-type intermediate-range hypersonic missile weapon system was established.”
While both China and Russia have deployed hypersonic missiles, the U.S. has encountered difficulties in developing its own and is under pressure in Washington to make progress.
This week, the U.S. Air Force conducted a test for one hypersonic capability, the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon known as ARRW. The ARRW has faced challenges in development and the prototype test was anticipated to be conclusive, according to Defense News.
The Air Force hasn't requested any budget allocation for ARRW in the 2025 budget request, but the department is seeking funding for another capability, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile program.
