The US, Russia, and China are currently engaged in a new space race to create a new generation of "hypersonic" missiles that can outrun even the most advanced missile defense systems by traveling at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound.
The second test of a hypersonic missile in less than a week underscored Kim s New Year s vow to bolster the military with cutting-edge technology at a time when talks with South Korea and the United States have stalled.
North Korea claimed to have successfully conducted a hypersonic missile test on January 5, 2022, whereas a form of armament was initially tested in September of 2021.
South Korea dismissed North Korea s claim to have recently launched a hypersonic missile as an exaggeration on Friday, saying it was a normal ballistic missile that could be intercepted.