Politics · South Korea · 2 days ago
South Korea says first test of domestic hypersonic missile succeeded
South Korea has announced a successful first test of a domestically developed hypersonic weapon.
President Lee Jae-myung watched the test on October 8 at a Defense Development Agency site in Taean, South Chungcheong Province.
The weapon uses a hypersonic glide vehicle, which separates from its booster and descends toward a target.
The presidential office said the vehicle hit its designated target.
Lee said the test showed South Korea’s ability to build its own defense technology.
The test was conducted amid North Korean provocations, according to one account.
The sources do not say what further tests or deployment plans are expected.
South Korea said its first test launch of a domestically developed hypersonic missile succeeded on October 8.
President Lee Jae-myung watched the test at the Agency for Defense Development’s Anheung test site in Taean, South Chungcheong Province.
The presidential office said the gliding vehicle hit its designated target point.
The Donga Ilbo reported that the presidential office released test photos on October 9, while Chosun Ilbo said no photos or video had been released on October 8.
Lee said the test showed that self-reliant defense is proven through technology and capability.
- Who
- South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development led development of the missile. President Lee Jae-myung watched the test.
- What
- South Korea said the first test launch of its domestically developed hypersonic missile succeeded.
- When
- October 8, 2026. The presidential office released photos on October 9, according to Donga Ilbo.
- Where
- At the Agency for Defense Development’s Anheung test site in Taean, South Chungcheong Province.
- Why
- Lee said self-reliant defense is proven through technology and capability. The sources do not state a specific reason for conducting this test.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Today, the first test launch of the hypersonic missile being developed with our own technology succeeded.
Self-reliant defense is proven not by slogans but by technology and capability.
President Lee watched the first test launch of the domestically developed hypersonic missile at the Anheung test site.
Lee said the test launch had succeeded, and the presidential office said the gliding vehicle hit its designated target point.
The presidential office released photographs of the test, according to Donga Ilbo.
- Test date
- October 8, 2026
- Weapon
- Domestically developed hypersonic missile
- Test site
- Anheung test site, Taean, South Chungcheong Province
- Development lead
- Agency for Defense Development
- Reported result
- The gliding vehicle hit its designated target point
Sources
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