“Succesful” Hypersonic Missile test attended by Kim Jong Un: Here is all you need to know about and India’s stand on it

 

North Korean state media said on Wednesday that the nation successfully tested a hypersonic missile, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attending the launch for the first time in more than a year.

 

Authorities in South Korea and Japan detected the alleged launch on Tuesday, prompting criticism from officials in Washington and Tokyo as well as a statement of concern from the UN Secretary-General.

 

It was the second test in less than a week, emphasising Kim’s New Year’s resolution to strengthen the military with cutting-edge technology at a time when talks with South Korea and the United States have stagnated.

 

According to the state news agency KCNA, the test-fire was intended to finalise the overall technical parameters of the designed hypersonic weapon system.

 

According to the report, a hypersonic glide vehicle took a 600-kilometre “glide jump flight” and subsequently a 240-kilometre “sea in waters” flight 1,000 kilometres distant after being released from the rocket launcher.

 

“The outstanding mobility of the hypersonic glide vehicle was more starkly demonstrated during the last test-fire,” according to KCNA.

 

It was Kim’s first formal attendance at a missile test since early 2020.

 

According to specialists, photos provided by state media appeared to show the same type of missile and warhead that was tested last week.

 

Ankit Panda, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the United States, tweeted, “His presence here would signal extra emphasis on this programme.”

 

India has also opposed such testings previously; according to those acquainted with the topic in the Indian foreign policy establishment, India views nuclear proliferation in North Korea as a danger to its “own national security” and will continue to seek an in-depth examination into how the country obtained nuclear capability.