North Korea revealed that Kim Jong Un attended a new weapons test last Sunday, highlighting it as a technological advancement in national defense, while images may indicate a hypersonic missile.
On 22 September 2026 GMT+7, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korea unveiled a new combat weapons system test conducted last Sunday. Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un attended the test, stating it demonstrated advanced national defense technology.
The report stated that North Korea's missile bureau successfully tested a "new type of weapon" on 20 September, with Kim Jong Un observing. However, the regime did not disclose the weapon type, only emphasizing the test's critical importance for rapid weapons technology development.
After the test, Kim Jong Un said the results represented advanced national defense technology and reflected progress in modernizing the military. He added that this technological progress is vital for war preparedness and future military development.
North Korea's disclosure came two days after South Korea's military reported that North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from Wonsan toward the East Sea on 20 September, fired about three hours apart. KCNA's images showed Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae watching the test, with a screen displaying “Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 flight trajectory,” leading analysts to believe the tested weapon may be a newly developed hypersonic guided missile.
Additionally, the screen displayed a distance of 908.2 kilometers, exceeding South Korea's estimated ranges of about 450 and over 600 kilometers for the two missiles. Experts note North Korea might have altered figures to portray a successful test, so further analysis is needed to verify the data.
This missile test occurred ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly high-level session and before the scheduled summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this Thursday. It signals that North Korea shows no intention of slowing its military capability development.
Source: Yonhap KCNA