[Edaily Reporter kim kwanyong ] North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea on the 12th. Military authorities analyzed that this launch may have been a show of force in response to the recent successful first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) by South Korean forces. Following North Korea’s claim on the 3rd that it had launched a hypersonic medium-range strategic missile, South Korea’s military announced on the 8th that it had successfully test-fired a hypersonic weapon, indicating that the missile development competition between the two Koreas is continuing.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that day, “Our military detected several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea starting around 9:20 a.m.” They added, “South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of the exact specifications of the detected North Korean missiles.”

This marks North Korea’s first ballistic missile launch in nine days since the 3rd. Notably, this time, multiple types of ballistic missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area, and the maximum flight distance is believed to have exceeded 900 km. However, specific details such as the number of missiles launched, their types, altitude, and flight trajectories have not yet been disclosed.

Regarding the intent behind this launch, the Joint Chiefs of Staff raised the possibility that it was a show of force in response to the South Korean military’s successful test launch of a hypersonic missile. Jang Do-young, Director of Public Affairs at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded to a question during a regular briefing that day regarding whether the launch was linked to the South Korean military’s recent hypersonic test launch, stating, “Preliminary analysis indicates it may be a show of force in response to the success of our hypersonic missile test launch, as well as an effort to demonstrate tangible achievements under the roadmap of the Five-Year Defense Development Plan and to intentionally showcase missile capabilities.”

This suggests that, in addition to the possibility of a response in reaction to the South Korean military’s successful test launch, North Korea intends to showcase its missile development achievements in accordance with its own defense capability enhancement schedule. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the ballistic missile launched that day was a hypersonic missile.

Previously, on the morning of the 3rd, North Korea launched one ballistic missile from the Wonsan area in Gangwon Province toward the East Sea. At the time, South Korean military authorities announced that the missile flew more than 700 km. Japan’s Ministry of Defense analyzed that it reached a maximum altitude of approximately 90 km and traveled a distance of about 680 km.

However, North Korea claimed that this was a launch drill for a hypersonic medium-range strategic missile. Kim Yo-jong, Director of the General Affairs Department of the Workers’ Party, stated in a statement on the day of the launch that the missile performed “wave-like flight,” changing its flight path at low altitude, and claimed that South Korean and Japanese military authorities were unable to track the missile’s flight path until the very end.

Director Kim even cited the missile’s ability to alter its flight path using artificial intelligence (AI), asserting, “There is virtually no way to evade this strike.” Speculation has arisen that the missile launched by North Korea may belong to the “Hwasong-16N” series of hypersonic medium-range ballistic missiles.

In response, the Ministry of National Defense refuted these claims on the 4th, calling North Korea’s assertions deceptive and exaggerated, and asserting that the missile was at a level that could be sufficiently detected and intercepted by the defense assets possessed by South Korea and the United States.

Amid this, the South Korean military also announced on the 8th that it had successfully conducted the first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle currently under development using its own technology. During this test, which President Lee Jae-myung personally observed, the performance of ultra-high-temperature heat-resistant materials, guidance and control capabilities, and low-altitude erratic flight capabilities were verified in a hypersonic flight environment.

According to the Blue House, the test-fired glide vehicle, after separating from its booster, descended to a low altitude and performed an erratic glide flight—changing its flight path vertically and horizontally—before accurately impacting the designated target point. After being briefed on the success of the test launch, President Lee urged the rapid development and operational deployment of the hypersonic glide vehicle.

A hypersonic glide vehicle is a weapons system that uses a booster to ascend to the upper atmosphere, where it separates and glides at low altitude. With speeds exceeding Mach 5 and an erratic flight path, it is more difficult to detect and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles.

South Korean military authorities are closely monitoring the possibility of further provocations by North Korea. The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, “South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies have been tracking and sharing relevant developments since the launch began,” adding, “Under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, we are closely monitoring North Korea’s various activities and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”