hWasong-8: what is known about the DPRK's new hypersonic missile

North Korea has created a new hWasong-8 missile capable of effectively overcoming American missile defense. Its successful launch, which took place last Tuesday, was reported by the KCNA news agency.

It is noted that the launch was made from the area of the village of Doyan, Renrim county, Chagan province.

During the first test flight, the controllability characteristics were confirmed, including the detachable gliding hypersonic warhead.

It is known that such warheads are poorly detected and, accordingly, intercepted by existing air defense and missile defense systems in the West.

Another feature of this development is the introduction of an onboard ampoule storage system for rocket fuel. This allows the refueled rocket to be in standby mode for a long time, which significantly increases combat readiness, simplifies operation and makes it safer.

According to KCNA, work in this area is considered one of the five most important areas in the creation of strategic weapons in the five-year plan for the development of defense science and weapons systems, put forward at the VIII Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

This month, it was also reported about the successful test of a cruise missile capable of hitting targets at a distance of 1,500 km. It also became known about the existence of missile trains in the DPRK.

Alexey Brusilov