Before the international uproar caused by North Korea’s two recent ballistic missile tests had died down, the communist government decided to push the envelope by testing a new supersonic gliding missile, which was immediately viewed as a severe new global threat.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency last week claimed that the test of what it described as a “strategic weapon of great significance” to the country’s self-defense strategy was successful. The launch of the Hwasong-8 confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile, in addition to “its guiding maneuverability and the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead,” KCNA reported.
But why did this test raise general concerns and what are the repercussions of Kim Jong Un’s possession of such a sophisticated weapon?
For starters, the hypersonic glide vehicle is one of the world’s fastest and most accurate weapons that can be designed to carry nuclear warheads. Its capability to maneuver mid-flight makes it challenging to track and decreases the possibility of it being intercepted. Moreover, a reliable defense system capable of intercepting these fast-moving weapons has not yet been fully developed. Thus, most leaders view it as one of the most dangerous military threats the world is currently facing.
In theory, a fully developed missile will not be limited by geographical range, which puts every country around the globe, including the US, at risk of being targeted at record speed if the North Korean leader chose to launch an attack.
Following the breakdown of the nuclear talks between the US and North Korea in 2019 over sanctions relief and what Kim would be willing to give up in return, Pyongyang has resumed its missile development and experiments. It has continued its focus on developing its hypersonic missile system, which the communist dictator considers one of the five top priorities of his five-year strategic weapons plan.
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