SEOUL, October 16, 2026 , South Korea’s military has dismissed North Korea’s doubts over Seoul’s recent hypersonic missile test, as tensions between the two countries grow amid intensifying competition to develop advanced weapons.
Hypersonic missiles can travel at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound and manoeuvre during flight, making them more difficult for defence systems to detect, track and intercept.
Earlier this month, South Korea conducted a test launch of its domestically developed hypersonic missile, describing the weapon as a key strategic asset capable of changing the course of the battlefield.
The launch came days after North Korea announced that it had tested an intermediate-range hypersonic missile equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
On Thursday, Pyongyang questioned the success of South Korea’s test, claiming that images released by Seoul could indicate that the missile had failed to achieve hypersonic flight.
South Korea’s military rejected the doubts, maintaining its position on the missile test as both countries continue advancing their weapons capabilities.
The latest exchange highlights the intensifying arms race on the Korean Peninsula, where both sides are pursuing increasingly sophisticated missile technology to strengthen their military capabilities.
-MALAYMAIL
