Suspected North Korea Hypersonic Missile Explodes Mid-Flight, Report South Korea

Photo : AP

SEOUL, South Korea — In a significant development, a suspected hypersonic missile launched by North Korea exploded in flight on Wednesday, as reported by South Korea’s military. This incident coincides with North Korea's protest against the regional deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for a trilateral military drill with South Korea and Japan.

The missile, launched from North Korea's capital region around 5:30 a.m. (4:30 p.m. Tuesday ET), was aimed towards the North’s eastern waters. However, it exploded mid-flight, scattering fragments into the water up to 155 miles from the launch site near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated that no immediate damage was reported.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile, suspected to be a solid-fueled hypersonic type, generated more smoke than usual launches, likely due to an engine fault. The test appeared to be aimed at enhancing the missile’s capacity.

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The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the launch, reinforcing the U.S. commitments to the defense of South Korea and Japan as “ironclad.” In a trilateral phone call, senior diplomats from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan condemned the missile launch, labeling it a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a threat to international peace. They agreed to maintain close three-way coordination, as stated by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

Escalating Military Tensions

Since 2021, North Korea has conducted a series of hypersonic missile tests in a bid to penetrate missile defense shields of its rivals. However, foreign experts remain skeptical about the speed and maneuverability of these hypersonic vehicles during test flights. In recent years, North Korea has been focusing on developing weapons with solid propellants, which are harder to detect than liquid-propellant missiles that require fueling before launch.

The missile launch occurred as North Korea engaged in Cold War-style psychological tactics, such as floating more than 200 balloons carrying trash across the border into South Korea on Tuesday night. This marks the sixth such campaign since late May. South Korea responded by suspending takeoffs and landings at Incheon International Airport for three hours early Wednesday, the second such disruption since North Korea began its balloon activities on May 28.

North Korea described its balloon launches as a tit-for-tat response to South Korean activists flying political leaflets via balloons. In retaliation, South Korea briefly restarted propaganda broadcasts from its border loudspeakers on June 9 for the first time in years and has indicated readiness to do so again.

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Deployment

The USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived in South Korea on Saturday, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol boarded the aircraft carrier on Tuesday, marking the first time a sitting South Korean president has done so since 1994. President Yoon praised the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, calling it the world's greatest and capable of defeating any enemy. He highlighted the upcoming South Korea-U.S.-Japan drill, dubbed “Freedom Edge,” aimed at enhancing combined responses in various operational areas, including air, sea, and cyberspace.

North Korea's vice defense minister, Kim Kang Il, criticized the U.S. aircraft carrier's deployment as “reckless” and “dangerous.” Historically, North Korea has viewed major U.S.-South Korean drills as invasion rehearsals and has often responded with missile tests.

Strengthening Alliances and Regional Security

South Korean officials emphasized that the upcoming trilateral training aims to bolster the three nations’ response capabilities against North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats, especially as North Korea deepens its military partnerships with Russia. Last week, during a summit in Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement to provide mutual aid if attacked and to strengthen cooperation, marking the strongest bond between the two countries since the Cold War's end.

The U.S. and its allies believe North Korea has been supplying Russia with conventional arms for its war in Ukraine in exchange for military and economic assistance.

This reported missile launch is North Korea’s first weapons demonstration since May 30, when Kim Jong Un oversaw the firing of nuclear-capable multiple rocket launchers simulating a preemptive attack on South Korea. Since 2022, North Korea has intensified its weapons testing pace to enhance its nuclear attack capabilities in response to what it perceives as an increasing U.S. military threat. Analysts suggest that North Korea’s ultimate aim is to leverage its expanded nuclear arsenal for greater concessions from the U.S. in future diplomatic negotiations

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