North Korea tests new hypersonic missile

Pyongyang: The projectile that North Korea fired off its east coast on Tuesday was a newly developed hypersonic missile, state news media KCNA reported on Wednesday.

The North Korea called the missile a "strategic weapon", which usually means it has nuclear capabilities.

The country fired the missile as it called on the United States (US) and South Korea to scrap their "double standards" on weapons programs to restart diplomatic talks.

As per North Korean state news outlet KCNA, the development of weapons system has increased the nation's capabilities for self-defence in every way.

The test could mean the North is entering an accelerating race to deploy the weapon now involving the US, Russia and China.

As per an official report, by launching the first test, national defense scientists confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile in the active section.

The missile, Hwasong-8, performed to its technical specifications including the guiding maneuverability and the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead.

Hypersonic weapons are considered the next generation of arms that aim to rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms.

On September 15, South Korea and North Korea both test fired ballistic missiles, following which both nations have developed increasingly sophisticated weapons.

The US on Monday had tested an air-breathing hypersonic weapon, marking the first successful test of the class of weapon since 2013.

The development of the weapon system increases North Korea's defense capabilities, KCNA said.

The denuclearisation negotiations, initiated between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018, have stalled since 2019.