Leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea pledged to advance the nation's nuclear and missile capabilities, has now witnessed the successful test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile (IRBM) on Monday, according to official media KCNA on Tuesday.

During his visit to South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised bilateral and trilateral cooperation, including with Japan, to counter Pyongyang's increasing military threats. It was North Korea's first missile launch since Nov. 5.

The test was conducted less than two weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration, the U.S. president-elect who often flaunts his connection with Kim and held historic summits with him during his first term. 

Launched from the suburbs of Pyongyang, the missile travelled almost 1,500 km (932 miles) at 12 times the speed of sound, climbing to a height of nearly 100 km before lowering to a "second peak" of 42.5 km and turning to a precise landing on a target off the east coast, according to KCNA.

The South Korean military said that the KCNA story was probably overstated, estimating the range to be about 1,100 km and stating that no second peak was seen; however, a thorough examination will be carried out in collaboration with the US. Instead of falling on a ballistic trajectory, a "second peak" would suggest that the missile may alter its trajectory and stay in the air.

According to KCNA, novel carbon fibre composite elements were implemented in the missile's engine portion. Although carbon fibre is more challenging to assemble than traditional aerospace materials like aluminium, it is more durable and lightweight. According to KCNA, the missile could inflict a significant military blow on the opponent and effectively penetrate any thick shield.

The rocket, according to Kim, is a potent weapon against security threats from adversaries and the shifting regional landscape. Photos of Kim and his little daughter watching the launch via teleconference and a missile taking off from a field were made public by KCNA.

"The development of new-type hypersonic missile is mainly aimed to steadily put the country's nuclear war deterrent on an advanced basis,"  Kim Jong Un told KCNA.

Cho Tae-yul, the foreign minister of South Korea and Blinken condemned the launch. They warned about Pyongyang's growing connections with Moscow, including illegal satellite and space collaboration.

As the competition for a future generation of far-reaching rockets that are challenging to track and block heat up, North Korea has been working on a new solid-fuel IRBM. The tests from last year included a new solid-fuel design and Pyongyang claimed it was a hypersonic glide vehicle, a warhead that can move and avoid missile defences.

Experts suggest that the North Korean leadership is still committed to building up its weapons because they believe that missile development is essential to both the survival of the government and national security.