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South Korea doubts North Korea’s claim to test hypersonic missile. Photo/The Guardian
On Wednesday, North Korea launched what its state media said was the country’s second hypersonic missile, which is usually defined as a weapon that reaches at least five times the speed of sound – or about 6,200 km per hour – and can maneuver at a relatively low trajectory, making it more maneuverable. difficult to detect and intercept.
“While the missile’s warhead appears to reach hypersonic speeds, it is shared by other ballistic missiles and Wednesday’s test did not appear to demonstrate the range and maneuverability claimed in state media reports,” a South Korean military official told reporters. US News, Friday (7/1/2022).
South Korea assessed that the projectile flew less than the 700km claimed by the North and exhibited less “lateral” maneuverability than reported, the official added.
The warhead on the missile launched on Wednesday featured a more conical shape than the first hypersonic missile North Korea claimed to have tested last September, which is similar to a launcher.
“This is not a hypersonic glide vehicle or hypersonic cruise missile, it is a missile with a mobile warhead,” the official said of the latest missile, which was first shown at a Pyongyang defense exhibition in October.
The assessment reflects international analysts noting that the test appears to have involved a liquid-fueled ballistic missile with a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV), a capability previously carried out by other countries including the United States and South Korea.
Also read: North Korea Claims to Launch Hypersonic Missile in Latest Action
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