Pyongyang:North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, as reported by South Korea's military. This move appears to be a response to South Korea's recent successful test of a hypersonic missile.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launch at approximately 920 a.m. from the Pyongyang area, with at least one missile traveling over 900 kilometers. JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young indicated that the launch is viewed as a protest against South Korea's hypersonic glide vehicle test and a demonstration of North Korea's missile capabilities under its defense plan.
The JCS has not yet confirmed whether the missiles launched were hypersonic or intermediate-range, as further analysis is required. South Korea had conducted its first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle the previous Thursday, following a mine blast incident on its side of the Demilitarized Zone, which a joint investigation attributed to North Korean-planted land mines. Pyongyang has denied responsibility for the incident.
Hypersonic missiles present significant challenges to existing missile defense systems due to their high speed and maneuverability. The recent launch from North Korea follows a previous ballistic missile test from the Wonsan area on October 3, which their state media claimed was part of training for a hypersonic strategic weapon system. The last missile launch from the Pyongyang area occurred on August 20.