Elsewhere in the world, the trial had already been criticized, including by the United States and the United Nations, after a report by South Korea. According to South Korean military spokesmen, the colossus flew with a top speed of 12,250 kilometers per hour. It was the second trial in a week.
Hypersonic missiles are five times faster than sound, which means that existing defense systems cannot or hardly intercept them. But they have a shorter range than the missiles called ballistics.
7350 kilometers per hour
South Korea claims the new missile outperformed the missile fired by North Korea on Jan. 5. It reached a speed of 7350 kilometers per hour and reached a distance of 700 kilometers. The South Korean government has called on its Stalinist-ruled neighbor to return to the negotiating table.
The UN Security Council has already met at the request of permanent members United States, France and Great Britain to discuss last week’s launch. North Korea was asked “to refrain from further destabilizing actions.” North Korea should finally start serious talks about removing nuclear weapons, they say.
The launches follow a speech by dictator Kim Jong-un in which he said North Korea will continue to build up its arsenal. According to Western observers, this is in stark contract with the economic crisis in the isolated country.