North Korea claims to have successfully launched a hypersonic missile.
North Korea announced that it had successfully tested "a new advanced weapons system" involving hypersonic missiles, as part of a defense program aimed at enhancing its strategic deterrence capabilities against enemies.
North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported on October 23 that two hypersonic missiles were launched from an area near the capital Pyongyang and struck a target deep inland in the northeastern part of the country.
KCNA did not mention whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present at the test. North Korea has been developing hypersonic missiles designed to maneuver and penetrate target missile defense systems.
The South Korean military said on October 23 that North Korea appeared to have fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, a week before a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in South Korea and a planned visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the region.
US President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
This marks the first time Pyongyang has launched a ballistic missile since May, despite the UN Security Council's arms embargo. It also signifies the first time since Lee Jae-myung was elected President of South Korea, a move based on cooperation with North Korea, that the country has launched a ballistic missile.
According to the Strait Times, the South Korean president and the US president discussed the idea of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when President Trump visits South Korea, but Pyongyang has yet to publicly respond to the idea.
According to someone familiar with the discussions, U.S. officials considered, but never confirmed, a trip to the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
South Korea has suspended tours of the joint security area at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom until early November, but has yet to confirm any plans for a meeting with leader Kim Jong-un.
