Overview

• North Korea announced the successful test of a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile, named Hwasong-16B, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and using solid propellants.
• The test was personally supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who declared the country's capability to build solid-fuel, nuclear-capable systems for missiles of all ranges.
• The missile demonstrated the ability to perform various flight maneuvers and landed in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, showcasing potential challenges to regional missile defense systems.
• Kim Jong Un emphasized the missile's role in strengthening North Korea's nuclear war deterrent against perceived enemies, including the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
• The launch prompted a combined aerial exercise by South Korea, the United States, and Japan, involving at least one nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 bomber, in response to rising tensions in the region.