North Korea says it tested solid-fuel hypersonic missile

North Korea’s latest test was
of a new solid-fuel hypersonic missile with intermediate range,
state media reported on Monday.
The missile launch on Sunday did not pose a security threat
to neighbouring countries, state news agency KCNA said.
The launch was aimed at testing the reliability of new
multi-stage, high-thrust solid-fuel engines and the
intermediate-range hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead,
according to KCNA.
On the same day, a delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe
Son Hui heading to Russia left Pyongyang on Sunday, KCNA
reported.
The missile launch and the delegation’s visit to Russia come
amid growing tensions between the two Koreas following
Pyongyang’s series of intercontinental ballistic missile
launches and its first military spy satellite as well as
deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow that have worried
Washington and its allies.
South Korea’s military said Sunday’s missile, launched from
the area of Pyongyang around 2:55 p.m. (0555 GMT), flew about
1,000 km (600 miles) off the country’s east coast while Japan’s
defence ministry said the maximum altitude was at least 50 km
(30 miles).
Pyongyang had previously said it tested its new solid-fuel
engines for an intermediate ballistic missile on Nov. 11 and
Nov. 14.