Official government statements or news reports

North Korea Launches Hypersonic IRBM, Travels 1,500km, Kim Jong Un Claims Unstoppable Weapon

Jan 6, 2025, 01:58 PM

North Korea conducted its first missile launch of 2025, firing an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) suspected to be equipped with a hypersonic warhead. The missile, which reportedly traveled at 12 times the speed of sound, was launched from the Pyongyang area and flew approximately 1,500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with his daughter, oversaw the test, which he claimed demonstrated the country's ability to deter adversaries in the Pacific region with a weapon that no one can counter. The missile utilized new carbon fiber materials and was part of North Korea's strategy to enhance its strategic deterrence capabilities. The launch occurred as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul, amid political turmoil in South Korea following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.