North Korea’s Kim Jong Un lauds apparent hypersonic missile test, calls it “incurable headache” for foes

September 22, 2026 / 9:28 AM EDT / CBS News

Hong Kong — With his teenage daughter and possible successor by his side, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched on Sunday as his country tested a purported new hypersonic weapon designed to evade missile defenses. North Korean state media said Kim had lauded the weapon as an "irresistible force" that would be an "incurable headache" for North Korea's adversaries.

The country's state-run KCNA news agency said the "new weapon" tested on Sunday was "of great significance."

The type of weapon was not specified by the reports, but photographs released by KCNA showed Kim, with his daughter Kim Ju Ae, inspecting a screen with a label reading, "Hwasongpho-11Ma-1 flight trajectory."

Analysts say the title suggests the test was of an upgraded version of an existing North Korean short-range ballistic missile that adds a retrofitted hypersonic glide vehicle. Hypersonic missiles can generally fly lower and faster than conventional rockets, making them more difficult to intercept. North Korea has tested various hypersonic weapons systems since 2021.

They are among the advanced weapons Kim has wanted his country to develop as he seeks to upgrade North Korea's nuclear capabilities.

The test launch on…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/