According to state news media KCNA, North Korea test-fired a newly developed hypersonic missile. This launch was made earlier this week. However, it was reported by North Korea’s media on Wednesday. This test-fired now marks the joining of North Korea in a race started by U.S and Russia so as to deploy the advanced weapons system.

The United States on Monday said it had tested an air-breathing hypersonic weapon, marking the first successful test of the class of weapon since 2013. Whereas Russia in July this year, successfully tested a Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missile, a weapon President Vladimir Putin touted as part of a new generation of missile systems without equal in the world.

On Tuesday, South Korea’s military said that North Korea fired the missile off its east coast towards the sea. However, according to South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, this hypersonic missile is at an early stage of development as judged by detected velocity and other data, and would take a "considerable period of time" until it could be deployed in combat.

Earlier, United States and South Korea indicated North Korea to scrap their "double standards" on weapons programmes to restart diplomatic talks. However, despite ongoing talks with U.S for dismantling the nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals in return for U.S sanctions relief, North Korea has been steadily developing its weapons systems.

Both of these missiles are powerful but unlike ballistic missiles that fly into outer space before returning on steep trajectories, hypersonic weapons fly towards targets at lower altitudes and can achieve more than five times the speed of sound or about 6,200 km per hour.

The development of the weapons system increases North Korea's defence capabilities, KCNA said, describing the hypersonic missile as "strategic weapon".

"In the first test-launch, national defence scientists confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile," the report said.

It said the missile, called Hwasong-8, performed to its technical targets "including the guiding manoeuvrability and the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead."

Image Courtesy: PCH Daily