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North Korea has announced the successful test firing of a ballistic missile fitted with hypersonic warhead.
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The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Missile Administration conducted a test fire of an intermediate-range, solid-fuel ballistic missile loaded with a hypersonic manoeuvrable controlled warhead on 14 January, according to the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The test reportedly successfully verified glide and manoeuvring features of the intermediate-range hypersonic manoeuvrable controlled warhead and the reliability of a newly developed multi-stage, high-thrust solid-fuel engines.
The test is part of regular activities of the missile administration and its affiliated defence science institutes for developing powerful weapon systems and does not affect the security of any neighbouring country. according to the statement from KCNA.
The test follows a joint statement released on 10 January from many international countries, including Australia, regarding North Korea transferring ballistic missiles to Russia and the use of those missiles in Ukraine.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) export and Russia’s procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine on December 30, 2023, and January 2, 2024,” according to the joint statement and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong.
“The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s war of aggression, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime. Russia’s use of DPRK ballistic missiles in Ukraine also provides valuable technical and military insights to the DPRK.
“We are deeply concerned about the security implications that this cooperation has in Europe, on the Korean Peninsula, across the Indo-Pacific region, and around the world.
“Our governments stand together in resolute opposition to arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia. The transfer of ballistic missiles, along with any other arms and related materiel, from the DPRK to Russia flagrantly violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) – namely, resolution 1718 (2006), resolution 1874 (2009), and resolution 2270 (2016) – that Russia itself supported.
“We are closely monitoring what Russia provides to the DPRK in return for these weapons exports. We call on the DPRK and Russia to abide by relevant UNSCRs and to immediately cease all activities that violate them.
“We urge all UN member states, including all members of the United Nations Security Council, to join us in condemning Russia and the DPRK’s flagrant UNSCR violations. As Russia launches waves of missiles and drones against the Ukrainian people, we will continue to stand together in support of Ukraine. We further call on the DPRK to respond to the numerous and genuine offers to return to diplomacy, the only path to an enduring peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
