North Korea’s launch of a “hypersonic” ballistic missile over the weekend appears to mark the country’s most significant reveal of a strategic system since the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile last year, potentially adding another maneuverable capability to frustrate adversaries’ missile defenses.

Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw what state media called the “firing drill” of a “hypersonic strategic weapon system” on Oct. 3. It appears to be the country’s first launch of a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile since Jan. 2025.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missile struck a target 1,000 kilometers away