North Korea Appears to Have Test-Fired Hypersonic Missile 'Hwasong-11ma', Aiming to Neutralize South Korean Air Defense Systems

New Missile Unveiled Earlier This Month Features Evasion of Air Defense Through Low-Altitude Irregular Maneuvers

Military: "Core Hypersonic Capabilities of Evasion and Gliding Flight Not Detected... Tests May Not Have Been Properly Conducted"

North Korea Test-Fires New Weapon System Hypersonic Vehicle (Pyongyang Korean Central News Agency=Yonhap News) North Korea's Missile General Bureau successfully test-fired an important weapon system on the 22nd, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 23rd. The agency stated, "Two hypersonic vehicles launched from the northeast direction in Ryokpo District, Pyongyang City, struck their targets on the Kwasongbong ridge in North Hamgyong Province." This test firing was observed by Pak Jong-chon, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, Kim Jong-sik, First Deputy Director of the Munitions Industry Department, and Jang Chang-ha, Director of the Missile General Bureau. 2025.10.23

[For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution] nkphoto@yna.co.kr

The short-range ballistic missile, test-fired by North Korea on the 22nd and the first since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, is assessed to be the hypersonic missile 'Hwasong-11ma' unveiled earlier this month.

This development of a short-range hypersonic missile with unpredictable flight trajectories, making interception difficult, is seen as an attempt to neutralize South Korea's air defense network, while also aiming to assert its presence ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju later this month.

North Korea announced on the 23rd through the Korean Central News Agency that it had test-fired two new weapon system hypersonic vehicles the previous day.

According to North Korea's announcement, the hypersonic vehicles launched from Ryokpo District, Pyongyang City, landed at the target point on Kwasongbong ridge in Unryong County, North Hamgyong Province. The distance between the launch and impact points is approximately 400 km.

The South Korean military announced the previous day that the North Korean missile was launched from the vicinity of Jungwha, North Hwanghae Province, near Pyongyang, and that the missile flew approximately 350 km. Compared to North Korea's announcement, there is a difference of about 5 km in the launch location and about 50 km in the range.

Although North Korea did not disclose the specific missile model or detailed specifications on this day, the analysis suggests it is the new hypersonic missile 'Hwasong-11ma' first unveiled earlier this month, given that it was referred to as a new hypersonic vehicle.

Hwasong-11ma has a glider-type shape with wings, unlike the cone-shaped warhead of conventional missiles, and experts commonly assess that the missile unveiled by North Korea on this day also exhibits the external appearance of a hypersonic glide vehicle, similar to Hwasong-11ma.

Hwasong-11ma first appeared at the 'Defense Development-2025' arms exhibition held in Pyongyang earlier this month.

Hwasong-11 is the official designation for North Korea's representative short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), the 'North Korean Iskander' KN-23. The unveiled Hwasong-11ma was in the form of a KN-23 launch vehicle equipped with a warhead in the shape of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).

Hwasong-11ma also reappeared alongside the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-20' at the 80th anniversary military parade of the Workers' Party of Korea on October 10th.

Hypersonic missiles are typically classified as missiles traveling at speeds of Mach 5 or higher and exhibiting irregular maneuvering capabilities while flying within the atmosphere.

They are also called 'game changers' because they can evade missile defense systems by combining speeds as fast as ballistic missiles with low flight altitudes like cruise missiles, along with irregular maneuverability.

However, irregular maneuvers involving unpredictable changes in altitude and direction were reportedly not detected by the South Korean military in the trajectory of North Korea's missile yesterday.

A military official explained, "Yesterday's North Korean missile showed the trajectory of a short-range ballistic missile," and added, "The gliding or evasive maneuvers, characteristic of hypersonic missiles, were not detected."

Irregular maneuvers are the core characteristic of hypersonic missiles that make interception difficult and neutralize air defense systems. This suggests that the current test launch may not have reached that level of technological capability.

A military official pointed out, "Gliding is a key criterion for hypersonic missiles, and there is doubt whether gliding is possible at a range of about 400 km," adding, "Considering that Kim Jong-un was absent and no launch photos were released, the missile test may not have proceeded normally."

Indeed, Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, who consistently appears at North Korea's important weapon system tests, was not present for this test launch.

During a parliamentary audit held at Gyeryongdae today, Air Force Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak stated, "We are still evaluating whether it was the hypersonic Hwasong-11ma missile."

Regarding the difference in range between the North Korean and South Korean military announcements, Son stated, "We are basing our information on data, while they are expressing it in writing, hence the difference," and concerning the detection of gliding or irregular flight, he said, "There are some limitations in detection due to the distance."

Experts believe it is too early to assess North Korea's level of hypersonic missile technology based on this test launch, but they anticipate that North Korea will continue its missile test firings.

Yoo Yong-won, a member of the People Power Party and former military correspondent, analyzed, "While the low-altitude hypersonic gliding performance is unknown, it appears to have been publicized to showcase accuracy," and predicted, "They will continue test-firing hypersonic missiles to neutralize South Korean and US air defense systems."

Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, evaluated, "Confirmation is needed through precise analysis of altitude and trajectory to determine if the warhead exhibited glider flight or hypersonic effects," and added, "The Hwasong-11ma type can be presumed to be a vehicle capable of gliding for 300 km at a minimum range of 500 km and executing certain evasive maneuvers."

Yang Moo-jin, a distinguished professor at the University of North Korean Studies, noted that North Korea modulated its tone by not directly naming South Korea and the United States, but analyzed, "The missile is aimed at the South in terms of range, and there is also a political purpose considering the APEC hosting in Korea," and stated, "The intention is to heighten tensions and assert its presence through missile test firings that can reach Gyeongju." Yonhap News