By Heejin Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea said it successfully tested “a new cutting-edge weapons system” involving hypersonic projectiles on Wednesday as part of a defence program to enhance strategic deterrence against enemies.
Two hypersonic projectiles were launched from a region near the capital, Pyongyang, and hit a target inland in the country’s northeast, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday.
KCNA did not mention that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present for the test. North Korea has been developing hypersonic missiles that are designed to manoeuvre and evade the target’s missile defences.
South Korea’s military said on Thursday that North Korea fired what appear to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles, a week before a key Asia-Pacific leaders’ meeting in South Korea and U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected visit to the region.
Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
(Reporting by Heejin Kim and Jack Kim; Editing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler)
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