North Korea reveals ‘new type of weapon’ after fresh ballistic-missile launches 

New Delhi:The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, oversaw the test of what Pyongyang described as a “new type of weapon” on Sunday, calling it a demonstration of “ultramodern defence technology” and progress in the modernization of the country’s armed forces. The disclosure on Tuesday appears to relate to the same test sequence in which South Korea detected two short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area towards waters off North Korea’s east coast. 

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korea’s missile bureau had “successfully tested a new type of weapon” on Sunday in the presence of the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang did not specify what the weapon system involved, but quoted Kim as calling the launch “undoubtedly a striking demonstration of ultramodern defence technology”. Kim also said acquiring the technology was significant for the country’s war preparedness and future development of its armed forces, warning that the advances would deliver adversaries a “very cruel and unavoidable blow”. 

State media images showed Kim examining a screen marked “Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 flight trajectory”. Reuters reported that the imagery appeared to show a missile from the Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 family, while Seoul-based NK News assessed that the projectile could be an upgraded variant associated with a hypersonic glide vehicle.

Such vehicles travel at very high speeds and can manoeuvre during flight, potentially complicating interception. The imagery, however, does not independently establish the weapon’s demonstrated operational capability or confirm all of Pyongyang’s claims.

As RNA Media reported earlier, South Korea detected ballistic missile launches from the Wonsan area on Sunday, before Pyongyang disclosed details of what it described as a “new type of weapon” test. South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the first missile was launched at around 3pm and flew about 450 kilometers, while a second, fired at about 5.50pm, travelled more than 600 kilometers. Japan separately assessed flight distances of about 440 kilometers and 590 kilometers, with both missiles falling outside its exclusive economic zone. 

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington respond

The September 20 launches came eight days after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles during what it later described as a joint firepower drill involving long-range artillery, missiles and drones. 

North Korean imagery showed a claimed flight distance of 908.2 kilometers for one missile, substantially higher than the South Korean and Japanese assessments. Yonhap reported that the figure could not be independently verified.

South Korea’s national security office said the launches violated relevant UN security council resolutions and urged Pyongyang to halt such military activity. Japan lodged a protest through diplomatic channels and said the launches threatened regional and international peace and security.

Officials from the foreign ministries of South Korea, Japan and the US held a telephone consultation on Monday. They reaffirmed that North Korean ballistic missile launches violate relevant UN security council resolutions and agreed to maintain close coordination.

The test comes amid continued North Korean development of ballistic missiles and other advanced weapons systems. Pyongyang has also rejected international pressure over its nuclear programme and maintains that strengthening its military capabilities is necessary for national defence.