South Korea test-flies its first homegrown hypersonic weapon

SEOUL — South Korea flight-tested its first domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) on Thursday (8 October), with President Lee Jae Myung observing at the Agency for Defense Development’s test site, per a presidential-office statement reported by AP, AFP, SBS and WION.

The statement said the weapon separated from its booster at the planned altitude, descended to a lower altitude and manoeuvred freely both vertically and horizontally before striking its designated target. The trial tested ultra-high-temperature heat-resistant materials, guidance and control systems, and the ability to fly an irregular low-altitude path at hypersonic speeds — at least five times the speed of sound.

Lee called the test a major step in strengthening South Korea’s conventional defence capabilities, saying his country “must secure our security through our own strength”. He also inspected the country’s most powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile on the same day.

The launch comes days after North Korea tested its own hypersonic missile on 3 October. Pyongyang claimed it used artificial intelligence and travelled more than 1,000 kilometres; South Korea estimated it flew more than 700 kilometres and Japan assessed about 680, before it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Seoul and Washington say allied defences could detect and intercept it.

Tensions have risen since three South Korean soldiers were injured by landmine blasts last month near the inter-Korean border. Seoul and the US-led UN Command blamed North Korean-planted devices; Pyongyang has denied responsibility.

Illustration: Flip News. (Editorial illustration — not footage of the actual test.)

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