SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) -- North Korea fired a suspected hypersonic ballistic missile into the East Sea on Monday, just two weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the military detected the projectile around noon. The ballistic missile, launched from the Pyongyang area, flew about 1,100 kilometers before landing in the waters.
While the missile was initially believed to use an engine typically found in intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) capable of reaching 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers, it traveled a shorter distance, military officials said.
The missile appears similar to hypersonic missiles tested in January and April last year. If confirmed as hypersonic, it would mark the longest flight distance yet recorded for North Korea's hypersonic weapons.
The launch coincided with U.S.-South Korea foreign ministers' talks in Seoul and occurred amid political turmoil in South Korea, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 and his impeachment by parliament on Dec. 14.
Analysts suggest that the timing of the launch could be aimed at testing South Korea's military readiness during its leadership crisis.
"South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities had detected and monitored preparations for the launch in advance," the JCS said in a statement.
Military authorities observed signs of a transporter erector launcher (TEL) near the launch site, a vehicle typically used for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
"Our military maintains overwhelming response capabilities and readiness against any North Korean provocations under the solid South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," the JCS added.
This marks North Korea's first ballistic missile test since Nov. 5, when it launched a short-range ballistic missile.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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