North Korea Joins Race with New Hypersonic Missile

By Al Mayadeen
Source: Agencies
29 Sep 2021 11:21

North Korea seems to have had enough of talking and takes action by launching its latest in a series of new weapons tests.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was not present at the time of the launch

North Korea test-fired a newly designed hypersonic missile earlier this week, according to state news agency KCNA.

South Korea's military said North Korea fired the missile into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, as Pyongyang called on the US and South Korea to end their "double standards" on weapons programs in order to resume diplomatic discussions.

According to KCNA, the development of the weapons system boosts North Korea's defense capabilities, calling the hypersonic missile a "strategic weapon".

Furthermore, the report noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was not present at the time of the launch.

The United States, which tested an air-breathing hypersonic weapon on Tuesday, “condemned” North Korea’s missile launch and advised Pyongyang to engage in dialogue.

The two Koreas tested ballistic missiles on Sept. 15, sliding into an accelerating arms race.

The US State Department said in a statement, “This launch is in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions and poses a threat to North Korea’s neighbors and the international community.”

North Korea has since released a series of statements saying it is willing to restart stalled talks and consider another summit if the United States and South Korea scrap their "double standards" on weapons.

North Korea also successfully test-fired a new long-range cruise missile on September 13, the first since March, raising concerns in Washington about the "threats" presented by such tests.

Pyongyang's recent ballistic missile test suggested that the government is escalating tensions in defiance of US President Joe Biden's administration.