North Korea claims successful launch of new missile...Kim Jong-un "checks Pacific adversary"

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 the test-fire was observed by Kim Jong-un, the general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, 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.

The newspaper said General Secretary Kim Jong-un expressed great satisfaction with the test results, evaluating that he could effectively break through any dense defense barrier and hit his opponent severely.

He also said the hypersonic missile system would reliably check any adversary in the Pacific region that could affect the safety of the country.

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.