(2nd LD) S. Korea conducts 1st test launch of hypersonic glide vehicle amid N.K. tensions

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SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea conducted its first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) on Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said, in an apparent show of force against North Korea amid heightening inter-Korean tensions following a recent border land mine blast.

The test launch was carried out to verify core hypersonic technologies, such as flight trajectories and speed, as a game-changing strategic asset capable of launching surprise precision strikes against enemy targets, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing to the press.

President Lee Jae Myung observed the launch in person, accompanied by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and other officials.

An HGV is a missile system that uses a booster to accelerate and ascend into the upper atmosphere before separating from the booster to glide at lower altitudes at hypersonic speeds.

"The HGV successfully separated from its booster and seamlessly executed its planned flight path under hypersonic conditions," she said. "This successful launch marks a major milestone in that preparations are complete to secure a new deterrent capable of striking critical targets across the theater of the Korean Peninsula."

Lee's office did not disclose the location of the test launch, but it reportedly took place on a barge inside a test center run by the Agency for Defense Development in Taean, about 130 kilometers south of Seoul.

The launch was aimed at testing super-high temperature thermal protection materials, guidance and control systems, as well as irregular maneuverability at low altitudes, Kang said.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, the HGV descended to a lower altitude after the separation, performing horizontal and vertical course adjustments, and accurately hitting the target, she said.

President Lee Jae Myung (R) listens to Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul (L) speaking during an Armed Forces Day ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, on Oct. 1, 2026. (Yonhap)

Thursday's unannounced launch is widely seen as a countermeasure to the Sept. 21 land mine explosion on the South's side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that severely injured two South Korean soldiers. Seoul determined it was caused by mines planted by North Korean troops in violation of the armistice agreement.

Tensions have heightened since the explosion, with Pyongyang flatly denying responsibility and threatening to retaliate should the South take any counteraction.

The Lee Jae Myung government, pursuing rapprochement toward Pyongyang, has drawn criticism for taking a passive stance in responding to the mine blast.

Critics have accused Lee and his officials of treading too lightly so as not to upset the North.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul has said "various countermeasures" were under consideration, after the military detonated the blast site during a mine-clearing operation Monday as part of its initial response.

By unveiling the HGV program, Seoul appears to not only boast of its latest advanced missile technology, but also to demonstrate a potent deterrent against the North's evolving missile threats.

North Korea test-fired Saturday what was assessed to be a hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance. The South's military said it flew 700 kilometers, but the North later claimed it flew 1,000 km, mocking Seoul for failing to properly detect the range.

This undated file photo shows the Hyunmoo-5 missile system on display during an Armed Forces Day event. (Yonhap)

After observing the test launch, Lee commended the team responsible for the HGV development for its efforts to advance the country's defense capabilities, stressing that national security should be protected through its own strength.

"The government will fully support the development and operational deployment of advanced weaponry so that our people can live without concern," Lee was quoted as saying by Kang.

"We must not rest on today's success, but further refine this technology so that the HGV becomes a reliable strategic asset that protects our security in the future," Lee noted.

Following the HGV observation, Lee went on to inspect the military's "bunker buster" Hyunmoo-5 surface-to-surface missile, dubbed the "monster missile" for its massive heavy weight and destruction power.

It is the first time the government has officially used the name "Hyunmoo-5" in a press statement. The Hyunmoo-5 had also been a covert project, referred to only as a "high-power missile."

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

(2nd LD) S. Korea conducts 1st test launch of hypersonic glide vehicle amid N.K. tensions

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首尔，10月8日（韩联社）——韩国青瓦台周四表示，韩国首次试射高超音速滑翔飞行器（HGV），此举显然是在朝韩关系因近期边境地雷爆炸事件而日益紧张之际，向朝鲜展示武力。

总统发言人康裕贞在向媒体发表的书面简报中表示，此次试射是为了验证高超音速飞行器的核心技术，例如飞行轨迹和速度，这是一种能够对敌方目标进行出其不意精确打击的、具有变革意义的战略资产。

李在明总统亲自观摩了发射仪式，国防部长姜新哲及其他官员陪同观摩。

高超音速飞行器（HGV）是一种导弹系统，它利用助推器加速并上升到高层大气，然后与助推器分离，以高超音速在较低高度滑翔。

“高超音速飞行器已成功与助推器分离，并在高超音速条件下顺利完成了预定飞行轨迹，”她说道。“此次成功发射标志着一个重要的里程碑，意味着我们已经完成了确保拥有能够打击朝鲜半岛战区关键目标的新型威慑力量的准备工作。”

李的办公室没有透露试射地点，但据报道，试射是在位于首尔以南约 130 公里泰安市的国防发展局试验中心内的一艘驳船上进行的。

康表示，此次发射旨在测试超高温热防护材料、制导和控制系统，以及低空不规则机动能力。

她表示，与传统的弹道导弹不同，HGV在分离后下降到较低的高度，进行水平和垂直方向的航向调整，并准确击中目标。

2026年10月1日，在忠清南道鸡龙市举行的建军节仪式上，韩国总统李在明（右）聆听国防部长姜新哲（左）的讲话。（韩联社）

周四的这次未事先宣布的发射被普遍视为对9月21日发生在军事分界线韩方一侧的地雷爆炸事件的回应。该爆炸导致两名韩国士兵重伤。首尔方面认定，爆炸是由朝鲜军队违反停战协定埋设的地雷造成的。

爆炸发生后，紧张局势加剧，平壤断然否认对此负责，并威胁称如果韩国采取任何反制措施，朝鲜将予以报复。

李在明政府寻求与平壤和解，但因对地雷爆炸事件采取被动态度而受到批评。

批评人士指责李光耀及其官员行事过于谨慎，以免激怒朝鲜。

国防部长康信哲表示，军方周一在一次排雷行动中引爆了爆炸地点，作为初步应对措施，目前正在考虑“各种应对措施”。

通过推出HGV计划，首尔似乎不仅在炫耀其最新的先进导弹技术，而且还在展示其对朝鲜不断演变的导弹威胁的强大威慑力。

朝鲜周六试射了一枚据评估为高超音速中程弹道导弹，最高领导人金正恩出席了试射。韩国军方称导弹飞行了700公里，但朝鲜随后声称飞行了1000公里，并嘲讽首尔未能准确探测到导弹射程。

这张未注明日期的资料照片显示的是在武装部队日活动上展出的玄武-5导弹系统。（韩联社）

李在观摩试射后，赞扬了负责重型战车研发的团队为提升国家国防能力所做的努力，并强调国家安全应该依靠自身实力来维护。

据康报道，李明博表示：“政府将全力支持先进武器的研发和作战部署，使我们的人民能够安心生活。”

李指出：“我们不能满足于今天的成功，而应该进一步完善这项技术，使重型货车成为未来保护我们安全的可靠战略资产。”

在参观完重型车辆后，李又去视察了军方的“掩体克星”玄武-5型地对地导弹，该导弹因其巨大的重量和破坏力而被戏称为“怪兽导弹”。

这是政府首次在新闻发布会上正式使用“玄武-5”这个名称。此前，“玄武-5”一直是一个秘密项目，仅被称为“高功率导弹”。

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（第二条）韩国在朝韩关系紧张之际进行首次高超音速滑翔飞行器试射