North Korea tests new hypersonic missile capable of hitting distant Pacific targets

In a significant development related to military capabilities, North Korea conducted a missile test on January 7, 2025, demonstrating its advancements in hypersonic technology. This test involved an intermediate-range missile that reportedly flew 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korean state media reported that the test was supervised by Kim Jong Un, who pledged to expand the nation's collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter perceived threats from rival nations in the region. The launch occurred amidst heightened tensions in East Asia and just weeks before Donald Trump was to return to the US presidency. The missile test follows a year of heightened military activity by North Korea, marked by multiple weapons system demonstrations that targeted neighboring countries and the United States. Concerns were raised regarding North Korea’s collaboration with Russia, especially in light of technology transfers due to the geopolitical alignment over the ongoing war in Ukraine. The application of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic warheads has raised alarms about the North’s potential to escalate its military capabilities and pose greater threats to regional security. In its efforts to develop hypersonic weapons capable of flying at over five times the speed of sound, North Korea has increasingly tested missile systems which can evade existing missile defense strategies. The news agency reported that the recent test achieved unprecedented speeds, claiming the missile traveled 12 times the speed of sound, although South Korean military experts have expressed skepticism regarding these claims, suggesting that the actual distance covered was shorter. These developments come as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul to discuss North Korea's nuclear threat. During the visit, Blinken condemned North Korea’s missile launches as violations of UN Security Council resolutions, reaffirming the commitment of the US and its allies to address the growing North Korean arsenal. Experts view this launch as a continuation of Kim Jung Un's strategy to solidify and expand his nuclear weapons program in the face of international scrutiny and pressure from the United States and consorting nations in the region.