The North Korean regime led by Kim Jong-un reported successfully testing its new ‘remarkable’ anti-aircraft missile on September 30, 2021, as part of a research initiative to develop and strengthen its anti-air missile system.
Significant members and officials of the political bureau and the workers’ party of Korea witnessed the test firing of the missile, as reported by the North Korean state media.
The Academy of National Defense Science, based in Pyongyang, indicated that the successful test showed “faster response, improved guiding accuracy, and increased impact distance of the anti-air missile after having modified the system’s twin rudder controlling technique and double impulse flight mortar.”
Kim Jong-un’s presence during the missile testing remains unknown.
The regime conducted its second missile test within one week as it had test-fired the newly-developed hypersonic missile ‘Hwasong-8’ in the Jagang Province of North Korea on September 28, 2021.
The development and execution of the hypersonic missile were one of the top five priority tasks within North Korea’s five-year strategic weapons plan.
Pak Jong Chon, a member of the presidium of the political bureau of North Korea, indicated that the development of the hypersonic missile is of strategic importance to the country’s defense capability.
It is speculated that the hypersonic missile recently developed by the North Korean regime might have nuclear capabilities.