North Korea conducted a test launch of a new hypersonic missile on Tuesday, January 7th. State media showcased the launch, amid a declaration by leader Kim Jong Un to expand the country's nuclear arsenal. The missile reportedly flew over 1,100 kilometers before splashing down in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
This follows a South Korean military report confirming the launch and trajectory. The launch underscores heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The test comes just weeks before the return of former U.S. President Donald Trump, potentially raising new complexities in the region.
The new missile is described as an intermediate-range hypersonic model, designed to strike targets at considerable distances within the Pacific. This latest development adds to a tumultuous year of North Korean weapons testing activity.
