Photos of Domestic Hypersonic Missile Launch Released... Aimed at North Korea?

[Anchor]

The Blue House has released 50 photos of the test-launch of a domestically developed hypersonic missile. Following video footage showing President Lee Jae-myung observing the site, this marks an unusual series of public disclosures for two consecutive days, which is seen as part of countermeasures against North Korea.

Kang Cheongwan has our top story.

[Reporter]

A flash of flame erupts from an offshore barge floating off the coast of Taean, South Chungcheong Province, and a missile spews white smoke as it soars into the sky.

The missile flew for hundreds of kilometers, and a massive column of water shot up as it struck the center of the water's surface, its target.

These are scenes of the test-launch and impact of a domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle, or HGV, which President Lee Jae-myung observed during his visit to the Agency for Defense Development test site the day before yesterday (October 8).

Following the release of video footage and some photos of President Lee's on-site observation the day before yesterday, the Blue House released 50 additional related photos yesterday.

[President Lee Jae-myung (October 8): "While the highest level of security is peace, the power to protect that peace also comes from strong deterrence and national defense capabilities."]

The South Korean government's decision to release photos of a missile test-launch and impact is considered unusual.

Unlike North Korea, which has flaunted its military power by publicizing launch footage each time it fires a new missile, the South Korean government has generally refrained from disclosing missile test-launch photos.

Earlier, when releasing the video of President Lee observing the test-launch, the Blue House stated that "preparations have been completed to secure in earnest new means of deterrence within the battlefield environment of the Korean Peninsula." Amid interpretations that the president's observation itself was a countermeasure against the North Korean landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone and North Korea's recent series of missile launches, the additional photo release is seen as delivering a more proactive message toward North Korea.

(Video by Jeong Sang-bo | Video Editing by Park Seon-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.