South Korea's first hypersonic glide vehicle test succeeds, President Lee attends
In short
South Korea carried out the first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) being developed with domestic technology on October 8, and it hit its designated target, Cheong Wa Dae said. President Lee Jae-myung watched the launch, said "our security is secured by our own strength" and called for rapid development and deployment. He then inspected the Hyunmoo-5 high-power missile.
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South Korea carried out the first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) being developed with domestic technology on October 8, and it succeeded, chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung (강유정) said in a written briefing. President Lee Jae-myung observed the launch. According to Kang, the vehicle rose to its target altitude, separated from its booster and flew as planned in the hypersonic environment. It then descended to low altitude, performed an irregular glide changing course vertically and horizontally, and struck the designated target point. [ 1 , 5 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 20 ]
Kang said the test was meant to verify, for the first time, the vehicle's ultra-high-temperature heat-resistant materials, its guidance and control, and its irregular flight at low altitude. She called the HGV a core strategic asset whose unpredictable trajectory and speed could suppress major strategic targets by surprise. She said the success meant preparations were complete to secure a new deterrent able to strike core targets in the Korean Peninsula battlefield environment. [ 1 , 5 , 11 , 14 , 19 ]
Before the launch, Lee was briefed on the plan by a principal researcher of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Dong-A Ilbo and Maeil Business reported that he asked why the launcher was set on a fixed barge at sea, checking whether this was for safety. After being told the test had succeeded, Lee told researchers their work had improved the country's defense capability. "Our security is secured by our own strength," he said, adding that the government would support developing and deploying advanced weapons. He said the government should not rest on the day's success and called for rapid development and deployment of the vehicle. [ 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
Lee then inspected the military's Hyunmoo-5 high-power missile and said the military's strong self-reliant defense capability would protect South Korea's peace and stability. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (강신철), Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Lee Yong-cheol (이용철) and National Security Office first deputy director Kang Geon-jak (강건작) attended. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 ]
An HGV is boosted to the upper atmosphere, separates and glides at low altitude. Newsis put the separation altitude at 40 to 100 km, and Dong-A Ilbo and CBS NoCut News gave its speed as Mach 5 or more. Kukmin Ilbo and CBS NoCut News said its changing trajectory makes it harder to intercept than ballistic missiles. [ 1 , 11 , 17 , 19 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun and Dong-A Ilbo noted the launch came five days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched a hypersonic missile launch on October 3. Dong-A, citing KCNA, said he attended with his daughter Ju-ae. Kyunghyang Shinmun and CBS NoCut News said the test could be read as a response to the September 21 DMZ mine explosion, after which the government concluded a soldier was seriously injured by a North Korean mine. CBS NoCut News noted the briefing did not mention North Korea directly. [ 5 , 11 , 19 ]
Why it matters
Cheong Wa Dae said the success means preparations are complete to secure a new deterrent able to strike core targets in the Korean Peninsula battlefield environment. Some outlets linked the test to North Korea, noting it came five days after Kim Jong Un watched a hypersonic missile launch and weeks after a DMZ mine explosion that wounded a South Korean soldier.
Key facts
- The first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle developed with South Korean technology succeeded on October 8. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
- The vehicle rose to its target altitude, separated from its booster, performed an irregular glide changing course vertically and horizontally at low altitude, and hit the designated target point. [ 1 , 5 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 20 ]
- The test was to verify ultra-high-temperature heat-resistant materials, guidance and control, and irregular flight at low altitude. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 19 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung observed the launch and called for the vehicle's rapid development and deployment. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
- After the test, Lee inspected the military's Hyunmoo-5 high-power missile. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
- Before the launch, Lee was briefed by a principal researcher of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and checked safety measures, including launching from a barge at sea. [ 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 ]
- The defense minister, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the first deputy director of the National Security Office attended. [ 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The first hypersonic glide vehicle test launch succeeded and the vehicle hit its designated target. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 20 ]
- President Lee Jae-myung attended the test launch. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 17 , 19 ]
- Lee said "our security is secured by our own strength" and that the government would support developing and deploying advanced weapons. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
- Lee inspected the Hyunmoo-5 missile after the test. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 ]
- Chief presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced the result in a written briefing. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19 , 20 ]
Still unclear
- Whether South Korea is the world's fourth country to succeed with such a test. Only one Kukmin Ilbo headline says "world's fourth"; no article text supports it.
- Where the launch took place. The documents say the launcher was on a fixed barge at sea but do not name the site.
- Whether the test was a response to North Korea. Kyunghyang Shinmun and CBS NoCut News read it as a response to the September 21 DMZ mine explosion; the briefing did not mention North Korea directly.
- The exact time of the launch. Newsis and CBS NoCut News say it took place in the afternoon; no exact time is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis flashes Cheong Wa Dae's statement that the domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle test launch succeeded. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap reports the first test launch succeeded with President Lee attending. [ 4 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun publishes a full report including the attendees and the North Korea context. [ 5 ]
- Newsis publishes a detailed report saying Lee attended the launch that afternoon. [ 17 ]