Seoul, South Korea
Reuters
North Korea test-fired hypersonic missiles on Sunday, state media KCNA reported on Monday, to assess its military operational capability regarding war deterrence.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the missile launch, said: “It’s a very important strategy to maintain or expand the strong and reliable nuclear deterrent,” because of “the recent geopolitical crisis and various international circumstances,” according to KCNA.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gestures as he visits a greenhouse farm construction site along the country’s border with China, in North Korea, on 2nd January, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency. PICTURE: KCNA via Reuters
The missiles hit targets about 1,000 kilometres away, over the sea east of North Korea, KCNA said.
The South Korean military said on Sunday that North Korea fired ballistic missiles towards the sea to its east as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung started a state visit to China.
The missile launch followed a North Korean statement on Sunday that denounced the U.S. strikes on Venezuela as a violation of that country’s sovereignty.
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North Korea fired hypersonic missiles in October, 2025, which analysts assumed were unveiled at a military parade along with a long-range intercontinental missile.
The test was apparently a response to US strikes on Venesuela, Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, wrote in a note on Monday.
The missile appears to be the Hwasong-11, which was showcased at the October parade, Hong said, citing his analysis of images published in state media reports.
Hong added that the regime is emphasising its ability to launch such missiles at any time, an effort to complicate U.S.-South Korea’s missile defence system and prevent its preemptive interception.