North Korea says it tested a significant new weapons system. Images suggest the Hwasong-11Ma hypersonic-linked missile was involved as Kim Jong Un pushes ahead with weapons development.
North Korea has announced a new weapons system following missile tests conducted on Sunday, with leader Kim Jong Un personally overseeing the launches.
State media said the weapon would strengthen North Korea’s war readiness. Kim described the development as something that would give its enemies an “incurable headache”, but North Korea did not officially identify the weapon in its announcement.
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Photographs released by North Korean state media showed Kim examining a monitoring screen that identified the missile as the Hwasong-11Ma. The system has previously been described by Pyongyang as a hypersonic weapon. Reuters reported that analysts believe the missile may be an upgraded short-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle.
What happened in the latest test?
South Korea's military detected two short-range ballistic missiles launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea's eastern coast.
The first travelled about 450 km, while the second flew more than 600 km towards the sea. Japan said the missiles landed outside its exclusive economic zone.
The tests came amid a wider series of North Korean military demonstrations, including live-fire exercises and the commissioning of a new warship.
What is the Hwasong-11Ma?
The Hwasong-11Ma is associated with North Korea's efforts to develop short-range missiles with greater manoeuvrability.
The reported use of a hypersonic glide vehicle is significant because such a vehicle is designed to manoeuvre during flight rather than follow the more predictable trajectory of a conventional ballistic warhead.
Hypersonic weapons are generally designed to travel at speeds above Mach 5. Their combination of speed and manoeuvrability can make them more difficult for missile-defence systems to track and intercept.
However, experts have questioned whether North Korea has consistently demonstrated the speeds it claims for its hypersonic systems. AP also noted that the exact capabilities of the latest weapon could not be independently verified.
Why is the test significant?
The latest launch comes as North Korea continues expanding its nuclear-capable missile arsenal while diplomatic efforts involving Washington remain uncertain.
US President Donald Trump recently scaled back a joint military exercise with South Korea, apparently in an effort to create space for renewed diplomacy with Kim. North Korea, however, has continued its weapons demonstrations and has criticised US-led military exercises.
Pyongyang has said Washington must first end what it calls its “hostile policy”, including sanctions and joint US-South Korea military exercises, before meaningful negotiations can resume.
At the same time, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has advocated a gradual approach to reducing North Korea's nuclear capabilities, arguing that a phased process could begin with stopping further development.
Where does the US-South Korea-Japan alliance stand?
The missile tests have taken place as the United States, South Korea and Japan continue coordinating on North Korea.
The three countries' foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York and agreed to coordinate closely on peace, stability and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea and Japan have both continued to monitor North Korean missile activity closely, while Washington has maintained coordination with its regional allies.
The latest test combines two developments: North Korea's continued missile modernisation and the uncertain future of diplomacy with Washington.
The Hwasong-11Ma is particularly relevant because North Korea is developing shorter-range systems that could potentially complicate regional missile defence. The reported 450-km and 600-km flights also demonstrate the geographic reach of the systems across the Korean Peninsula and towards the surrounding waters.
The timing is also notable. Washington has recently made a gesture towards renewed engagement by scaling back a joint military exercise with South Korea, but Pyongyang has continued testing weapons. That suggests that military activity and diplomacy are currently moving on separate tracks.
North Korea's growing military ties with Russia and China are another factor cited by analysts. AP reported that experts believe Kim may see his expanding nuclear and missile capabilities as giving him greater leverage in any future negotiations.
The latest launch therefore matters not only because of the missile technology involved, but also because it comes at a time when the US and its allies are attempting to assess whether diplomacy with Pyongyang can be revived.
Published: 22 Sept 2026, 09:35 am IST
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