North Korea’s official news agency (KCNA) announced that the country’s leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the test launch of hypersonic missiles.
The test was conducted on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and its purpose was to assess the readiness of the weapons system, enhance the operational skills of the missile forces, and examine combat deterrence capabilities.
Kim Jong-un emphasized in the test that the continuous strengthening of a strong and reliable nuclear deterrent is an important strategy and that this action is necessary due to the “recent geopolitical crisis and complex international events.”
According to the KCNA report, the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area and hit their targets about 1,000 kilometers away in the East Sea.
This test is North Korea’s first missile launch in 2026 and comes on the eve of the Workers’ Party Congress.
The move came a day after the US operation in Venezuela, which Pyongyang condemned.
