North Korea "Succeeds in Testing New Hypersonic Missile...12 times the speed of sound".

North Korea says it has successfully test-fired a new hypersonic mid- to long-range ballistic missile.

The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's state-run media, said today (7th) that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the test-fire with a video surveillance system.

The Rodong Sinmun said the missile launched northeast from the launch site in the suburbs of Pyongyang, North Korea, reached an altitude of up to 99.8 kilometers at a speed of 12 times the speed of sound, flew 1,500 kilometers and hit the target area on the high seas.

He then explained that new carbon fiber composites were used to manufacture the missile engine fuselage, and that new and effective methods were introduced based on technologies already accumulated in flight and guidance control systems.

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired a mid-range ballistic missile from Pyongyang around noon yesterday (6th) and flew 1,100 kilometers before landing on the East Sea.