North Korea says it tested solid-fuel hypersonic missile By Reuters

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© Reuters. Ballistic missile, stated to be solid-fuel and hypersonic, launches throughout a take a look at at an unspecified location in North Korea on this image launched by the Korean Central Information Company on January 14, 2024. KCNA by way of REUTERS

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By Hyunsu Yim

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea on Sunday examined a brand new solid-fuel hypersonic missile with intermediate vary, state information company KNCA reported on Monday, including it didn’t pose a safety menace to neighbouring nations.

The launch was aimed toward testing the reliability of latest multi-stage, high-thrust solid-fuel engines and an intermediate-range hypersonic maneuverable managed warhead, in response to KCNA.

The take a look at occurred on the identical day {that a} delegation led by Overseas Minister Choe Son Hui heading to Russia left Pyongyang, KCNA reported.

The missile launch and the go to to Russia come amid rising tensions between the 2 Koreas following Pyongyang’s sequence of intercontinental ballistic missile launches and its first navy spy satellite tv for pc, in addition to deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow which have frightened Washington and its allies.

In a separate KCNA commentary on Monday, North Korea accused Seoul of escalating tensions within the area with navy drills and armament calls by South Korean officers.

“Even just a little spark generally is a catalyst for big bodily conflicts between the 2 most hostile nations,” the commentary stated.

North Korea has just lately made adjustments to designate the South as a separate, enemy state, breaking with a long time of coverage, with chief Kim Jong Un saying peaceable reunification is not potential.

Analysts have stated the transfer might probably assist justify using nuclear weapons towards Seoul in a future conflict.

South Korea’s navy stated Sunday’s missile, launched from the world of Pyongyang at about 2:55 p.m. (0555 GMT), flew about 1,000 km (600 miles) off the nation’s east coast. Japan’s defence ministry stated the utmost altitude was a minimum of 50 km (30 miles).

Pyongyang had beforehand stated it examined its new solid-fuel engines for an intermediate ballistic missile on Nov. 11 and Nov. 14.