North Korea Tests Mach 12 Hypersonic Missile with 1,500 km Range; South Korea Doubts Claims

Jan 7, 2025, 07:17 AM

North Korea announced that it successfully tested a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle on January 6, 2025. Launched from near Pyongyang, the missile flew approximately 1,500 kilometers at a speed of Mach 12, reaching a maximum altitude of 99.8 kilometers before descending to 42.5 kilometers and precisely hitting its target. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch, stating that the new missile would help deter rivals in the Pacific region. The test comes less than two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office. The test coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to South Korea. However, South Korea's military has expressed skepticism about North Korea's claims, calling them likely a 'deception'.