On October 22, 2025, North Korea once again captured the world’s attention with the test of what it claims is a new hypersonic missile system—a move that’s stirring anxiety across Northeast Asia and beyond. According to the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the launch was part of a broader effort to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear war deterrent, and it comes at a moment when the eyes of the world are already fixed on the Korean Peninsula, just days before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
The test, which South Korea’s military confirmed, involved two hypersonic projectiles fired from an area south of Pyongyang. These missiles traveled northeast for about 350 to 400 kilometers before landing on a mountain ridge in Orang, North Hamgyong Province, according to reports from both South Korean and North Korean sources. The North’s Missile General Bureau oversaw the test, but notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not attend the launch, as reported by KCNA and corroborated by The Korea Herald and Reuters.
KCNA described the system as “strategic,” hinting that these missiles could be designed to carry nuclear warheads. While the agency was careful not to specify the missile’s model or technical specifications, defense analysts and South Korean officials believe the weapon is likely the newly unveiled Hwasong-11Ma, a hypersonic variant first revealed at a weapons exhibition and displayed during the October 10, 2025, military parade marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. The Hwasong-11Ma is an advanced version of the KN-23, North Korea’s adaptation of Russia’s Iskander short-range ballistic missile, now equipped with a glide-shaped warhead capable of flexible maneuvers at speeds exceeding Mach 5—five times the speed of sound.
According to Pak Jong Chon, one of Kim Jong Un’s top military officials who attended the October 22 launch, the “new cutting-edge weapon system” performed admirably. He declared, as quoted by KCNA, that North Korea would “continue efforts to bolster its war deterrent and defense capabilities.” The message was clear: Pyongyang intends to keep pushing the envelope, regardless of international criticism or sanctions.
Experts are split on just how effective these new hypersonic weapons really are. While North Korea touts their ability to evade regional missile defense systems—thanks to their speed and maneuverability—outside analysts remain skeptical. Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told The Korea Herald that “a careful analysis of the missile’s altitude and flight path is needed to determine whether its warhead demonstrated a glide-type or hypersonic capability.” He added, “Based on current observations, the Hwasong-11Ma appears to be a vehicle capable of flying about 300 kilometers in a gliding phase within a total range of at least 500 kilometers, performing limited evasive maneuvers.”
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested that the timing of the launch was no accident. “Although North Korea refrained from directly criticizing South Korea or the US, the test appears aimed at drawing attention ahead of the APEC summit,” he said. Given that the missile’s range can reach Gyeongju—the site of the upcoming APEC summit—Yang believes the launch was meant to heighten tensions and assert North Korea’s presence as world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, prepare to gather in South Korea.
Wednesday’s launch marked North Korea’s first missile test in 167 days and the first since liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung took office on June 4, 2025. President Lee, who campaigned on restoring peace to the Korean Peninsula, has already reached out to Pyongyang with offers for dialogue. But so far, his overtures have been flatly rejected. Kim Jong Un has made it clear he will not resume diplomacy with the United States or South Korea unless Washington abandons its longstanding goal of denuclearizing the North.
The missile test also comes at a time when North Korea is rapidly expanding its arsenal. At the October 10 parade, Kim Jong Un unveiled not only the Hwasong-11Ma but also a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), described by state media as the country’s most powerful nuclear asset yet—one that could potentially reach the U.S. mainland. According to analysts cited by AP and Reuters, Pyongyang may be preparing to test this ICBM in the coming weeks, ahead of a major ruling party conference scheduled for early 2026. The stakes are high: Kim is expected to announce key policy directions at that event, possibly including a new approach toward the United States.
International response to the test was swift. The U.S. Forces Korea released a statement saying it was “fully aware” of the launches and North Korea’s “relentless pursuit of long-range missile capabilities.” The statement urged Pyongyang to refrain from “unlawful and destabilizing actions” that violate United Nations Security Council sanctions, emphasizing that the U.S. commitment to its alliance with Seoul remains “ironclad.”
North Korea’s missile program has been on an upward trajectory since 2019, when high-stakes nuclear diplomacy between Kim Jong Un and then-President Donald Trump broke down over disagreements about U.S.-led economic sanctions. Since then, Kim has accelerated weapons testing, seeking to develop missiles capable of overwhelming South Korean and U.S. missile defenses. Hypersonic weapons, in particular, have become a focal point of Pyongyang’s strategy, as their high speed and unpredictable flight paths pose a significant challenge to existing interception systems.
Despite the technical advances, skepticism remains about the consistency and reliability of North Korea’s hypersonic technology. Some experts caution that the North’s claims about missile performance can be difficult to verify, especially since independent journalists and international inspectors are rarely given access to the test sites or data.
Still, the symbolism of the October 22 launch is hard to miss. By flexing its military muscle just ahead of a major international summit, North Korea is sending a message not only to its immediate neighbors but to the global community: it will not be ignored, and it will continue to develop its strategic capabilities, sanctions and diplomatic isolation notwithstanding.
As world leaders prepare to converge on South Korea for the APEC meeting, the specter of North Korea’s advancing missile program looms large—an ever-present reminder of the complex and volatile security landscape in Northeast Asia. For now, the world waits to see how the region’s leaders will respond, and whether there is any path left toward renewed dialogue and lasting peace.