US EditionNorth Korea's Kim oversaw hypersonic missile test, KCNA says
Kim Jong-un supervised the launches to demonstrate North Korea's nuclear deterrent readiness amid rising tensions following the U.S. capture of Venezuela's president, KCNA reported.
- On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw hypersonic missile test-flights launched from Pyongyang's Ryokpho District that struck targets about 1,000 km away over the Sea of Japan, KCNA said.
- Kim framed the drill as necessary, saying `Why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events`, while KCNA said it tested war deterrent readiness before the Workers' Party congress.
- South Korea's military and Japan's Defense Ministry said their sensors registered two ballistic missile launches, condemning them as destabilising provocations, while independent journalists lacked access and KCNA images remain unverified.
- The tests came just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for a summit in China, raising diplomatic friction as U.S. Forces Korea consulted closely with allies.
- Analysts note that many foreign experts doubt North Korea's hypersonic weapons tests achieved desired speed, while warning a functioning system could penetrate U.S. and South Korea missile defence systems.
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98 Articles
North Korea Conducts First Missile Launch of 2026 into Sea of Japan
North Korea on Sunday launched what it claimed to be hypersonic missiles into the Sea of Japan in a firing drill. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who stated that nuclear deterrence is necessary due to the “recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events,” oversaw the launches, the first of the year for Pyongyang. The hypersonic missiles, launched from the Ryokpho district in the Pyongyang municipality to the northeast direction,…
North Korea links missile launch to 'recent geopolitical crisis'
North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the Sunday test-firing of hypersonic missiles in a drill made necessary by "the recent geopolitical crisis," state media quoted him as saying. The report Monday by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed and added details about North Korea's first missile launch of 2026, including that it employed a "cutting-edge" new weapon system using hypersonic missiles first tested in October. Kim was n…
North Korea test-launches hypersonic missile system in front of Kim, nation says
Kim Jong Un oversaw hypersonic missile test-flights ahead of major Workers' Party congress, state media reported, with North Korean leader calling for upgraded offensive weapon systems.
Morning Brief: Trump Warns Drug-Producing Nations, Delcy Rodríguez Assumes Interim Presidency, North Korea Tests Hypersonic Missiles
Trump warns drug states as Venezuela shifts and global tensions rise. Here’s your Monday morning brief for January 5, 2026. #MorningBrief #Venezuela #UkraineRussiaWar #MiddleEast
North Korea hardens its military rhetoric. Kim Jong-un’s regime conducted hypersonic missile tests on Sunday to “prepare the forces...
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