North Korea: Kim sees successful test of new hypersonic missile

SEOUL: Kim Jong Un of North Korea oversaw a successful test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday, state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

The missile flew some 1,500 km at 12 times the speed of sound and reached the maximum altitude of nearly 100 km before accurately landing at a target off the east coast, it said.

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New carbon fibre composite materials were used in the missile’s engine, and it could “effectively penetrate any dense defence barrier and inflict a serious military blow on the opponent,” KCNA said.