North Korea has test-fired a new hypersonic weapons system, launching two projectiles from near Pyongyang in what state media described as part of efforts to“strengthen strategic deterrence.”

The missiles, launched early Thursday, successfully struck targets in the country's northeast, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The report did not confirm whether leader Kim Jong Un attended the test.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches appeared to involve short-range ballistic missiles that flew around 350 kilometers before landing within North Korean territory. The launches come days before U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to Seoul and a regional Asia-Pacific summit.

The U.S. Forces Korea command said it was“fully aware” of the launches and condemned them as“unlawful and destabilizing,” urging Pyongyang to refrain from further actions that violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Experts noted that this is North Korea's first ballistic missile test since May, marking an escalation in weapons activity amid renewed efforts by Seoul's new president, Lee Jae-myung, to pursue dialogue with Pyongyang.

North Korea has prioritized developing hypersonic missiles capable of maneuvering at high speeds to evade interception, a key element in its strategy to counter U.S. and allied missile defense systems.

The latest test underscores Pyongyang's continued defiance of international sanctions and growing regional tension ahead of high-level diplomatic meetings. Analysts say the timing of the launch is likely intended to gain leverage ahead of Trump's talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reaffirming North Korea's determination to strengthen its strategic posture despite global condemnation.

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