Military Watch Magazine

North Korea Demonstrates New Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Strike Capability

North Korea has announced the successful test of a new missile system incorporating a hypersonic glide vehicle, marking the latest test since such systems were first flown in September 2021. South Korean forces detected two short-range ballistic missile launches from the country’s eastern coast, reporting that the projectiles travelled approximately 450 and 600 kilometres before falling into the sea, indicating that the vehicles are intended for a short range tactical system. North Korea in 2025 became the first country to unveil a short range ballistic missile with a glide vehicle, which is an evolution of the KN-23 design better optimised to evade enemy air defences.