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[INTERNATIONAL] · North Korea, South Korea, Japan, United States · 77 sources

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North Korea tests hypersonic intermediate-range missile

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the launch of an intermediate-range strategic missile on Saturday, which state media described as a test of a hypersonic strategic weapon system. The launch, conducted from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea, was intended to train missile troops and evaluate the reliability of the country's nuclear deterrent.

North Korean officials claim the missile utilized artificial intelligence to adjust its trajectory at low altitudes and traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to hit its target. Kim Yo Jong, the leader's sister, asserted that these capabilities make the missile nearly impossible to avoid. However, South Korean and Japanese authorities reported different flight distances, estimating the missile traveled over 700 kilometers and approximately 680 kilometers, respectively.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that the missile remains within the detection and interception capabilities of combined ROK-US defense assets. Experts suggest the projectile may be a Hwasong-16 Na hypersonic missile, which could potentially threaten U.S. military facilities in Guam. This launch occurs amid heightened regional tensions following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers.

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Guam · Hwasong-16 Na · Japan · Japan · Joint Chiefs of Staff · KCNA · Kim Jong Un · Kim Jong-un · Kim Yo Jong · Kim Yo-jong · North Korea · North Korea

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