President Lee Jae Myung watched South Korea's first hypersonic glide vehicle test. The presidential office said the vehicle separated from its booster, followed its planned path and hit the target.
South Korea conducted the first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle under development on Thursday, with President Lee Jae Myung observing, the presidential office said. Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the test was meant to check flight path, speed and other core technologies.
Kang said the vehicle separated from its booster and followed its planned path under hypersonic conditions. She said it then descended to a lower altitude, made horizontal and vertical course changes, and hit the target. The test also covered heat protection, guidance and low-altitude maneuvering.
Aviation Week reported that Lee watched the trial at an Agency for Defense Development facility on the West Sea, also called the Yellow Sea. Chosun Biz said Lee had asked whether the launch was made from a barge for safety reasons and later praised the researchers.
Lee said security is protected by the country's own strength and that the government would support development and deployment of advanced weapons so people could live without concern, Kang said. He had watched the fifth Nuri launch the day before, Chosun Biz reported.
The briefing describes a development test, not an operational deployment. Yonhap did not publish a range or a production schedule.
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- Lee said national security should be protected through the country's own strength.
- Kang said the vehicle hit the target after course adjustments.