North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Again: Response to South's Hypersonic Success?

[Anchor]

North Korea fired several ballistic missiles toward the East Sea this morning (October 12). One of them was found to have flown more than 900 kilometers. The launch is analyzed as a show of force against South Korea's hypersonic missile test launch, which was disclosed four days ago.

Choi Jae-yeong reports.

[Reporter]

North Korea fired ballistic missiles toward the East Sea from the Pyongyang area starting around 9:20 a.m. today.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that multiple missiles of different types were launched, and one of them flew more than 900 kilometers.

Japan's Ministry of Defense also announced that "at least two" missiles were launched, analyzing that the missile fired around 9:19 a.m. reached an altitude of about 20 kilometers and flew roughly 220 kilometers, while the missile fired 17 minutes later around 9:36 a.m. reached an altitude of 70 kilometers and flew more than 910 kilometers.

Regarding the missile with the shorter flight distance, speculation suggests it could be a Hwasong-11-series short-range ballistic missile or a KN-25 super-large multiple rocket launcher deployed by North Korea.

On the other hand, the missile that flew over 900 kilometers is analyzed to potentially be a hypersonic missile or a ballistic missile equipped with a high-yield warhead.

[Shin Jong-woo / Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum: "If it conducted a glide flight, there is a high possibility it is a hypersonic missile under development by North Korea, and if it lacked glide flight characteristics, there is also the possibility of it being (a missile equipped with) a high-yield warhead."]

North Korea's provocation came just four days after the South Korean government revealed the successful first test launch of a domestic hypersonic glide vehicle.

[Jang Do-young / Head of Public Affairs Office at the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "We currently assess this as a show of force against our successful hypersonic missile test launch conducted on October 8, and...."]

The National Security Office convened an emergency security situation review meeting to examine the defense posture and urged North Korea to immediately halt ballistic missile launches.

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek | Graphics by Yang Gi-tae)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.