NKorea: Missile Tests Show New System  10/23 06:22

   

   SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Thursday that its latest missile 
tests involved a new hypersonic system aimed at strengthening its nuclear war 
deterrent, as leader Kim Jong Un continues to build up weapons designed to 
overwhelm South Korea defenses.

   The report by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency came a day 
after South Korea's military said it detected the North firing multiple 
missiles from an area south of the capital, Pyongyang, and said they flew about 
350 kilometers (217 miles) northeast before falling on land.

   The tests came days before world leaders, including U.S. President Donald 
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to gather in rival South 
Korea for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

   The U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement that it was "fully aware" of North 
Korea's ballistic launches and also its "relentless pursuit of long-range 
missile capabilities." It urged the North to refrain from "unlawful and 
destabilizing actions" in violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions, adding 
that the U.S. commitment to its alliance with Seoul remains "ironclad."

   KCNA said the launches involved two hypersonic projectiles that accurately 
struck a land target in the country's northern region. It described the system 
as strategic, implying that the missiles were designed to be armed with nuclear 
warheads.

   KCNA didn't specify the name of the missile system it tested. At a military 
parade earlier this month, Kim unveiled some of his military's newest weapons, 
including what appeared to be a short-range ballistic system fitted with 
hypersonic glide vehicles.

   North Korea in recent years has been testing various missile systems tipped 
with hypersonic weapons, which are designed to fly at more than five times the 
speed of sound. The speed and maneuverability of such weapons are meant to help 
them evade regional missile defense systems, but experts have questioned 
whether they have consistently flown at the speeds the North claimed during 
tests.

   Pak Jong Chon, one of Kim's top military officials who attended Wednesday's 
tests, lauded the performance of the "new cutting-edge weapon system" and said 
the North would continue efforts to bolster its war deterrent and defense 
capabilities.

   During the Oct. 10 parade, Kim also unveiled a new intercontinental 
ballistic missile that state media described as the country's most powerful 
nuclear asset, adding to his growing collection of weapons with potential range 
to reach the U.S. mainland. Experts say the North could be preparing to test 
the missile in the coming weeks, ahead of a major ruling party conference in 
early 2026, when Kim is expected to announce key policy directions, potentially 
including his approach toward the United States.

   Kim has been sharply accelerating the pace of weapons tests since his 
high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling 
over the U.S.-led economic sanctions.

   Wednesday's launches were North Korea's first ballistic missile tests since 
liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took office in June, pledging to 
restore peace on the Korean Peninsula. But Kim has so far rejected Lee's offer 
for talks and has said he won't resume diplomacy with the United States unless 
Washington abandons its goal of denuclearizing the North.