North Korea test-launches hypersonic missile system in front of Kim, nation says

North Korean person Kim Jong Un oversaw test-flights of hypersonic missiles and called for a stronger atomic warfare deterrent, authorities media said Monday, arsenic Pyongyang ramps up weapons displays up of a large governmental conference.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said Sunday’s drill involving a hypersonic limb strategy was designed to trial combat readiness, sharpen rocket troops’ operational skills and measure the country’s wide warfare deterrent.

"Through today’s launching drill, we tin corroborate that a precise important exertion task for nationalist defence has been carried out," Kim said, according to KCNA. "We indispensable continuously upgrade the subject means, particularly violative limb systems."

The announcement came a time aft South Korea and Japan said they detected aggregate North Korean rocket launches, which they condemned arsenic provocations. The tests besides took spot conscionable hours earlier South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for China to conscionable with President Xi Jinping.

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In this photograph provided by the North Korean government, person Kim Jong Un, center, inspects test-flights of hypersonic missiles, successful Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Independent journalists were not fixed entree to screen the lawsuit depicted successful this representation distributed by the North Korean government. The contented of this representation is arsenic provided and cannot beryllium independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

If afloat operational, a hypersonic rocket would springiness North Korea the quality to evade U.S. and South Korean rocket defence systems. While Pyongyang has conducted a bid of hypersonic tests successful caller years, galore overseas experts stay skeptical that the weapons person achieved the indispensable velocity and maneuverability.

In this photograph provided by the North Korean government, person Kim Jong Un walks connected a roadworthy arsenic helium inspects test-flights of hypersonic missiles, successful Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The latest tests travel caller launches of what North Korea described arsenic long-range strategical cruise missiles and caller anti-air systems, on with state-released images showing advancement connected what it claims is its archetypal nuclear-powered submarine.

Experts accidental the authorities is showcasing its weapons advancements up of the ruling Workers’ Party congress, its archetypal successful 5 years. The gathering is expected to reappraisal subject achievements and could awesome whether Kim plans to displacement his attack toward the U.S. oregon revive long-stalled atomic talks.

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North Korea’s atomic programme is besides expected to beryllium discussed during the acme betwixt Lee and Xi. Lee’s bureau said the South Korean president plans to impulse China — Pyongyang’s main state and economical lifeline — to play "a constructive role" successful easing tensions connected the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, halfway left, and his woman Kim Hea Kyung get to depart for China astatine the Seoul airdrome successful Seongnam, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Defending his propulsion for atomic expansion, Kim cited increasing planetary instability. 

"Why it is indispensable is exemplified by the caller geopolitical situation and analyzable planetary events," helium said.

The rocket launches followed Saturday’s melodramatic U.S. subject cognition that removed Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro from powerfulness and brought him to the U.S. to look narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. North Korea condemned the operation, calling it further impervious of what it described arsenic "the rogue and brutal quality of the U.S."

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Analysts accidental the determination is apt to reenforce Kim’s propulsion to grow North Korea’s atomic arsenal, which helium views arsenic indispensable to authorities endurance and nationalist sovereignty successful the look of what Pyongyang sees arsenic U.S.-led hostility.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.