North Korea Tests New Hypersonic Missile

North Korea tests a Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 hypersonic missile on Sept. 20, 2026. State media Korean Central News Agency photo North Korea test launched a new weapon over the weekend that appears to be a hypersonic missile, according to photos released Tuesday by state media Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea’s Missile Administration Bureau tested a new weapon on Sunday, demonstrating the rapid technological development of the weapon systems, KCNA reported.

KCNA did not specify what the weapons were but wording on a display of the missile’s movement reads: “Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 flight trajectory,” indicating an upgraded version of the Hwasong-11MA hypersonic missiles that North Korea unveiled last year. Additionally, imagery shows the fired missiles having the sharp dart-like tip of hypersonic missiles, rather than the blunt cone tip of ballistic missiles.

“Today’s success is the priceless fruit brought by a special force of the sci-tech group involved in the development of this important weapon system for a specific purpose and their devoted efforts,” said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the tests, according to a Pyongyang Times report.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter watch a test launch of a Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 hypersonic missile on Sept. 20, 2026. State media Korean Central News Agency photo Kim’s remarks indicated that North Korea has completed its research into hypersonic missile technology and is now moving towards deploying the missiles operationally. North Korea test fired the hypersonic missiles in October last year, USNI News reported.

The test did not have any adverse impact on the security of neighboring countries and is an extension of the regular activities of the Missile Administration and its defense science research institutes aimed at implementing the national defense policy, KCNA reported.

KCNA did not disclose how many missiles were launched, the location of the launch or performance details of the missiles but South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and Japan’s Ministry of Defense provided estimates on Sunday.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired two missiles from the Wonsan area towards the Sea of Japan on Sunday.

The first missile was launched at 3 p.m. local time and the second at 5:50 p.m. The first missile traveled 450 kilometers – around 280 miles – and the second traveled more than 600 kilometers – 373 miles.

North Korea tests two Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 hypersonic missiles on Sept. 20, 2026. State media Korean Central News Agency photo South Korea and the U.S. are currently conducting an analysis of the missile’s exact specifications.

“Under a firm ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, our military is closely monitoring various North Korean movements and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation,” reads the JCS statement.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense issued two reports on the missile launch, confirming the timing of the launches.

Japan estimated that the first missile reached a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers – 37 miles – and flew for 440 kilometers –273 miles – before landing outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the Sea of ​​Japan.

The second report said the missile launched around 5:50 p.m. t reached a maximum altitude of 70 kilometers – 43 miles – flew for about 590 kilometers – 367 miles – before it landed outside of Japan’s EEZ.

North Korea has launched at least 15 ballistic missiles and other projectiles on nine occasions since the start of 2026 in contrast to last year’s total of five missiles on four occasions, Japan Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in an X post on Sunday. Koizumi stated that Japan has lodged a strong protest and condemnation of North Korea through North Korea’s embassy in Beijing.

In a Sunday press conference, Koizumi was asked on North Korea’s intentions for the launches and replied that it was difficult to give a definitive answer regarding the intentions behind each individual launch by North Korea.

“However, whatever their objectives may be, North Korea’s nuclear and missile development threatens the peace and stability of Japan and the international community, and violates relevant Security Council resolutions, and is absolutely unacceptable,” Koizumi said.