N. Korea reports test-firing of 'tactical' ballistic missile to improve weapons systems

North Korea test-fired a tactical ballistic missile from an unspecified location on October 12 to upgrade a core weapons-system component, state media reported Tuesday. The missile administration called the technical improvement a big success that could improve the performance and sophistication of offensive weapons. South Korea’s JCS said multiple ballistic missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea, with one flying more than 900 kilometers.

The missile test was North Korea’s 16th ballistic missile launch of the year and followed its previous launch on October 3 by nine days.

North Korea did not disclose further technical details about the tactical ballistic missile test.

South Korea and the United States were conducting a detailed analysis of the missiles’ specifications after the launches.

South Korea publicly announced its first successful test-firing of a homegrown hypersonic glide vehicle four days before the North Korean launches.

The hypersonic glide vehicle can travel at Mach 5 or faster and maneuver along unconventional trajectories, making it difficult to track and intercept.

Published Oct 13, 2026 8:00 am KST

North Korea fires a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile, Jan. 6, in this file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap

North Korea has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile to upgrade a key component of its weapons systems, which it called a "big success," the country's state media reported Tuesday.

The report came a day after South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea.

North Korea's missile administration "test-fired a tactical ballistic missile on October 12 to confirm the success in the research for the technical upgrading of an important core element," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The administration claimed that the upgrade "was a big success heralding an important change in improving the performance and sophistication of all offensive weapon systems," it added, describing the test as part of regular activities.

The North did not disclose further details about the test-firing.

The JCS earlier noted that North Korea launched multiple types of ballistic missiles, with one specific kind of missile flying more than 900 km, and that South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications.

Monday's launches marked the North's 16th ballistic missile launch of the year, coming nine days after its previous launch on Oct. 3.

They also came four days after South Korea publicly announced its first and successful test-firing of a homegrown hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) in an event also attended by President Lee Jae Myung.

Hypersonic missiles are often described as potential "game changers" on the battlefield, as they travel at speeds of Mach 5 or faster and can maneuver along unconventional trajectories, making them difficult to track and intercept.

The South Korean government's disclosure of the advanced weapons test was seen as an apparent demonstration of its deterrence capabilities against North Korea following a land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Sept. 21 that injured three South Korean soldiers.

据朝鲜官方媒体周二报道，朝鲜于10月12日从未公开地点试射了一枚战术弹道导弹，以升级其核心武器系统部件。朝鲜导弹管理局称，此次技术改进是一项重大成功，有望提升进攻性武器的性能和精密度。韩国联合参谋本部表示，多枚弹道导弹从平壤地区向东海发射，其中一枚飞行距离超过900公里。

这次导弹试验是朝鲜今年的第16次弹道导弹发射，距离10月3日的上一次发射已经过去了9天。

朝鲜没有透露有关战术弹道导弹试验的更多技术细节。

导弹发射后，韩国和美国对导弹的规格进行了详细分析。

在朝鲜发射高超音速滑翔飞行器四天前，韩国公开宣布其国产高超音速滑翔飞行器首次试射成功。

高超音速滑翔飞行器可以以 5 马赫或更快的速度飞行，并沿着非常规轨迹进行机动，这使得跟踪和拦截变得困难。

发布于2026年10月13日上午8:00（韩国标准时间）

这张由朝鲜官方通讯社朝中社发布的资料照片显示，朝鲜于1月6日试射了一枚新型中程高超音速弹道导弹。（韩联社）

据朝鲜官方媒体周二报道，朝鲜试射了一枚战术弹道导弹，以升级其武器系统的关键部件，并称之为“巨大成功”。

这份报告发布的前一天，韩国联合参谋本部（JCS）探测到多枚弹道导弹从平壤地区向东海发射。

据朝中社报道，朝鲜导弹管理局“于10月12日试射了一枚战术弹道导弹，以验证一项重要核心部件技术升级研究的成功”。

政府声称此次升级“取得了巨大成功，预示着所有进攻性武器系统的性能和精密度将得到显著提升”，并补充说，此次测试是常规活动的一部分。

朝鲜方面没有透露有关试射的更多细节。

韩国联合参谋本部此前指出，朝鲜发射了多种类型的弹道导弹，其中一种导弹的射程超过900公里，韩国和美国当局正在对这些导弹的规格进行详细分析。

周一的发射标志着朝鲜今年第 16 次弹道导弹发射，距离其 10 月 3 日的上一次发射已有 9 天。

此外，就在韩国公开宣布其国产高超音速滑翔飞行器（HGV）首次成功试射四天后，韩国总统李在明也出席了此次活动。

高超音速导弹经常被描述为战场上的潜在“游戏规则改变者”，因为它们的飞行速度可达 5 马赫或更快，并且可以沿着非常规轨迹进行机动，这使得它们难以追踪和拦截。

9月21日，朝鲜非军事区发生地雷爆炸，造成三名韩国士兵受伤。此后，韩国政府公开了此次先进武器试验，这被视为其对朝鲜展现威慑能力的明显举措。