Home » North Korea says it has tested a hypersonic missile | Asia News | Al Jazeera

North Korea says it has tested a hypersonic missile | Asia News | Al Jazeera

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According to North Korean official media reports, the weapon that the country launched from its east coast on the morning of the 28th is a newly developed hypersonic missile, which is also the latest progress in weapon research and development made by the country with nuclear weapons.

The North Korean Central News Agency reported on the 29th that the development of the weapon system has enhanced North Korea’s defense capabilities and referred to this missile as a “strategic weapon.”

The North Korean official media “Rodong Sinmun” also published pictures of this new weapon-the missile with a set of guidance wings at the bottom of the nose cone is rising into the early morning sky.

North Korea has been steadily developing its military arsenal. At the same time, negotiations aimed at dismantling its arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in exchange for lifting its economic sanctions have reached a deadlock.

KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the launch, while senior North Korean official Pak Jong Chon watched the launch of the new missile.

The report pointed out, “During the first test launch, defense scientists verified the navigation control and stability of this missile.”

North Korea stated that this missile named “Mars-8” has achieved the technical goals of the working team, “including the verification of the guided maneuverability of the hypersonic glide warhead and the characteristics of gliding flight.”

Ankit Panda, a senior researcher at the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace in the United States, said that North Korea’s “Mars” series of missiles use liquid propellant engines.

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Ankit Panda tweeted, “This is the first liquid propellant missile test conducted by North Korea since November 2017.”

Leonid Petrov, an expert on North Korea and a senior lecturer at the Sydney School of International Management, told Al Jazeera reporters that this technology is very “cutting edge” and that this weapon can fly 5 to 7 times faster than the speed of sound.

He also said, “This is of course a very powerful weapon, and the North Korean people are also very proud of their first successful test.”

Kim Jong-un said at a party congress held in January this year that North Korea intends to improve its military capabilities. At that time, he included the hypersonic missile system on the wish list of the five major weapon systems.

This is North Korea’s third test launch this month. At the same time, South Korea is also developing more advanced weapons. On September 15 this year, the two countries respectively tested ballistic missiles within a few hours of each other. Seoul also held a water test ceremony for the third submarine capable of carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles on the 28th.

Leif-Eric Easley, Associate Professor of International Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, pointed out in an email, “Due to its extremely high speed and different trajectories, hypersonic missiles will be difficult to detect, track and defend. .”

“The advancement in fuel is designed to allow North Korea to launch missiles quickly, making it more difficult for other countries to preemptively strike or destroy these missiles before launch. North Korea is unlikely to have fully developed all the technologies claimed in its propaganda. However, if North Korea Trying to install nuclear warheads on even the most basic hypersonic missiles will be a dangerous weapon because it does not have to be very precise to threaten the nearby metropolis of Seoul.”

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“predictable”

South Korea has been trying to bring North Korea back into contact circles. However, since the summit between Kim Jong Un and former US President Donald Trump broke down in 2019, negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula have been stalled.

After South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for a statement to officially end the Korean War of 1950-1953, North Korea said last week that it would consider holding another summit with South Korea if it can ensure mutual respect between neighboring countries.

The South Korean military announced the news shortly after the missile was launched on the 28th, but did not disclose the maximum altitude and flight distance of the missile. Under normal circumstances, South Korea will publish such information within one hour of North Korea’s missile launch.

South Korean media reports quoted unnamed sources as saying that the missile had “different flight characteristics” from previously launched missiles. President Moon Jae-in called for a “comprehensive analysis” of the launch. Japan thinks it is a ballistic missile.

North Korea, which attacked South Korea in 1950, was subject to a number of international sanctions for its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. In this month, North Korea tested another long-range cruise missile and a railway mobile missile.

(Al Jazeera)

The United States has repeatedly expressed its willingness to meet with North Korean officials at any time, any place, and without preconditions, in an effort to resume negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The United States condemned the launch on the 28th as a violation of sanctions against North Korea and a threat to the international community.

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Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Far East Research Institute, said North Korea is seeking to develop its weapons “as a means to enhance its military posture while also making room for diplomatic strategies”.

He also said that more launches are expected in the future.

He pointed out to the Agence France-Presse reporter, “To a certain extent, North Korea’s recent behavior is predictable.”

“They sent a signal for military action, and they are now implementing it step by step.”

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