North Korea successfully conducts ground-jet test for new hypersonic missile

North Korea has reportedly conducted a successful ground-jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new type of intermediate hypersonic missile. These missiles, capable of traveling at least Mach 5, are part of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's pledge to develop sophisticated weapons, including nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites. The recent test follows North Korea's ground tests of solid-fuel engines for intermediate-range ballistic missiles in November and a test-fired IRBM with a hypersonic warhead in January. This development has raised tensions on the Korean peninsula, with South Korea detecting multiple short-range ballistic missile firings near Pyongyang.