[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea confirmed that it conducted the first test launch of a new hypersonic missile the previous day. It is reported that Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, did not attend the event.
On the 29th, Korean Central Broadcasting reported, "The National Defense Science Institute conducted a test launch of the newly developed hypersonic missile Hwasong-8 on the morning of the 28th at Doyang-ri, Ryongrim County, Jagang Province."
The broadcast stated, "It was the first test launch," and added, "The defense scientists confirmed the missile's flight control and safety during the active phase, as well as technical indicators including the guidance maneuverability and gliding flight characteristics of the separated hypersonic glide warhead."
Only Pak Jong-chon, Secretary of the Workers' Party, and senior officials from the defense science sector attended the test launch that day.
This report confirmed that the short-range missile launched by North Korea the previous day was indeed the hypersonic missile that North Korea had declared it would develop and test-produce earlier this year. At the 8th Workers' Party Congress on January 1st, Kim Jong-un stated that "the task of developing and introducing a hypersonic glide flight warhead within a short period was set."
Officials from our government have also raised the possibility of it being a hypersonic missile, noting the difference in speed between missiles North Korea has launched so far and this missile.
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