In January 2025, North Korea attracted global attention, again, when Pyongyang announced the test of a new supersonic medium-range ballistic missile system.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the launch took place on the 6th of January under the direct supervision of the head of state: Kim Jong-un. The missile reached a speed 12 times greater than the speed of sound, rose to an altitude of about 100 kilometers, and hit a target 1,500 kilometers from the launch point.
The test was the second in a series of hypersonic tests conducted by Pyongyang, following the first launch of such a missile in April 2024. North Korean authorities claim that the development of hypersonic weapons is aimed at strengthening national security and deterring potential threats in the Asia-Pacific region.
North Korea’s Military Developments
North Korea’s military strategy has been in the making for decades. The country’s first steps in developing missile systems were made in the 1980s, relying on technology from the Soviet Union. The DPRK began by developing short-range missiles and gradually expanded its arsenal, increasing the range and power of its warheads. The search for hypersonic weapons has become part of Pyongyang’s national security doctrine since the latter end of the Cold War.
International Community
The international community has reacted to these developments with deep concern.
Hypersonic missiles are highly capable of penetrating modern missile defence systems.The United States, Japan, and South Korea have condemned Pyongyang’s actions, saying they violate UN Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to both global security. For instance, President Biden strongly condemned the launch in a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister,Fumio Kishida, who sharply criticised the launch.
Security experts claim the significant advances in North Korea’s military technology, following the launch, and raise the possibility of a regional arms race because of Pyongyang’s ongoing violation of UNSC protocol.
North Korean Future Capabilities
The international community is particularly concerned about Pyongyang’s development of nuclear warheads and the possibility of export agreements with sanctioned (non-)state actors.
Reports have surfaced of arms agreements between North Korea and Islamist groups: namely Ansarullah and Hizbullah in the Middle East. North Korea’s access to nuclear technology poses a real risk to all state actors concerned with the shadow economy of arms exports to belligerent (non-)state groups.
North Korea’s interests therefore align with (non-)state actors outside the Asia-Pacific region. These actors include non-state actors, namely the Houthis and their partners in the Horn of Africa, Al-Shabaab, that fall under Iranian sponsorship.
The ongoing threat of the Houthis, despite significant blows in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria will not deter the long-term project of Tehran. North Korea’s recent hypersonic missile tests highlight the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts and creating new arms control mechanisms for the entire international community since North Korea’s drive to acquire nuclear weapons threatens the security of states across Asia-Pacific and the MENA.
World powers need to strike a balance between curbing Pyongyang’s military ambitions and maintaining stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Only through dialogue and cooperation can peace prevail for state actors in Asia-Pacific and those actors affected by the shadow economy that continues to fund non-state activities beyond the region.
