[Exclusive] The Missile Launched from the North is Possibly a 'Hypersonic Missile'

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The short-range missile launched by North Korea into the East Sea on the morning of the 28th is believed to be a hypersonic missile. This is the first time North Korea has launched a hypersonic missile.

On the day, an intelligence official said, "Around 6:40 a.m., a short-range missile was launched eastward from the Mu-pyeong-ri area in Jagang Province, North Korea, with an estimated speed of Mach 2 to 3," adding, "It is different from the missiles North Korea has launched so far."

In January, at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party, North Korea officially declared the development of new weapons, including the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM). The "hypersonic gliding warhead" mentioned by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un at the time refers to a hypersonic missile.

A hypersonic missile flies at speeds above Mach 5. Unlike ballistic missiles, which follow a curved trajectory similar to a rising curve and then descend, hypersonic missiles are difficult to intercept with missile defense systems (MD). This means they can potentially neutralize the Korea-U.S. air defense network, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), serving as a "game changer."

The missile launched by North Korea on this day is understood by intelligence authorities to be a preliminary step toward developing a hypersonic missile. Hypersonic missiles require much higher levels of technology than subsonic cruise missiles, as they integrate advanced aerospace technologies such as supersonic engine technology, precision control technology, and ultra-high temperature heat-resistant materials.

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee also explained in a report submitted to the 2022 Fiscal Year National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on the 22nd (local time), "North Korea has publicly announced and continues to pursue plans to develop miniaturized nuclear warheads and tactical nuclear weapons to threaten the territories of the United States and its allies, Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV) for missiles, solid-fuel ballistic missiles of various ranges, nuclear propulsion systems for submarines, and hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV)."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.