North Korea says it tested new solid-fuel missile with hypersonic warhead

Jan. 14 (UPI) -- North Korea on Monday said it had test fired a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a hypersonic warhead, according to state-run news.

The announcement was made a day after North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Sunday that traveled over 310 miles before landing in the East Sea, outside of the rival country's waters.

The reclusive nation claimed the launch was of an intermediate-range solid-fuel missile topped with a hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead, which is much faster than traditional warheads, making them difficult to intercept.

North Korea said the launch was successful and was aimed at verifying the reliability of the multi-stage high-thrust solid-fuel engines of the missile and the maneuvering characteristics of the warhead.

"The test-fire never affected the security of any neighboring country and had nothing to do with the regional situation," the report carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in defense of the launch.

Japan's Defense Ministry condemned the missile test in a statement, adding that it is currently analyzing the results of North Korea's test.

"North Korea's actions, including its repeated launches of ballistic missiles, threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community," Japan's Defense Ministry said.

"Such ballistic missile launches are in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions and are a serious matter concerning the safety of the Japanese people. Our country has made a strong protest against North Korea and strongly condemned the launch."

Five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council -- China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States -- each have nuclear weapons. Apart from North Korea, the nations of Pakistan, India and Israel also have nuclear weapons.

"In order to protect the lives and property of our citizens, we will continue to work closely with the United States, South Korea, and other countries, and do our utmost to collect and analyze information and conduct vigilance monitoring," the Japanese Defense Ministry said. "if we obtain any additional information that should be made public in the future, we will announce it immediately."

South Korea confirmed the ballistic missile test, stating it was shot around 2:55 p.m. local time Sunday from the Pyongyang region.

"Our military immediately captured and monitored the tracking of North Korea missile launches," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It is also analyzing the results of North Korea's test.

"Our military will maintain the ability and command to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation while being polite to North Korea's various activities under a firm Korean-U.S.-United Defense Command."

The launch was North Korea's first ballistic test of the year and comes after its mid-December launch of a solid-fuel missile.

It also comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea has been ramping up development of its weapons programs while South Korea, Japan and the United States have been strengthening their military alliance.

Despite political differences between North Korea and Japan, leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of sympathy to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after recent devastating earthquakes.

"In the message, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to the prime minister and, through him, to the bereaved families and victims, upon the sad news that big casualties and material losses were caused by earthquakes in Japan from the outset of the new year," the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The message sincerely hoped that the people in the affected areas would eradicate the aftermath of earthquakes and restore their stable life at the earliest date possible."