North Korea has conducted a significant test of its hypersonic missile capabilities, with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the military exercise and emphasizing the urgent need to enhance the country’s nuclear deterrent. The official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Sunday’s drill examined the readiness of hypersonic weapon systems while improving missile troops’ operational proficiency.
Kim declared the successful test marked completion of “a very important technology task for national defense” and stressed the necessity of continuously upgrading military capabilities, particularly offensive weapon systems. The launches occurred just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China to meet with President Xi Jinping, where North Korea’s nuclear program was expected to feature prominently in discussions.
The development of functional hypersonic weapons represents a strategic priority for Pyongyang, as such technology could potentially penetrate U.S. and South Korean missile defense systems. However, many foreign weapons experts remain skeptical about whether North Korea’s tested missiles have actually achieved the desired hypersonic speeds and maneuverability characteristics.
This latest demonstration forms part of an intensified weapons display campaign ahead of North Korea’s first Workers’ Party congress in five years. Recent weeks have witnessed tests of long-range strategic cruise missiles, new anti-air missiles, and apparent progress in nuclear-powered submarine construction.
Regional analysts suggest the timing may also connect to recent U.S. military operations against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which North Korea condemned as demonstrating “the rogue and brutal nature of the U.S.” Kim explicitly referenced geopolitical crises and complex international events as justification for his nuclear expansion efforts, indicating these developments likely reinforce his commitment to expanding weapons capabilities as insurance against perceived U.S. hostilities.