Pyongyang rejects Seoul's hypersonic test claims, justifies own arms buildup

North Korea rejected South Korea’s explanation for the lack of soot on its hypersonic glide vehicle during a test launch on Oct. 8. Pyongyang called Seoul’s claim about advanced thermal-protection materials far-fetched and cited South Korea’s weapons development to justify strengthening its own defense capabilities. The dispute unfolded amid heightened inter-Korean tensions after a land mine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers.

The test evaluated high-temperature thermal-protection materials, guidance and control systems, and the vehicle’s ability to maneuver unpredictably at low altitudes.

North Korea argued that aerodynamic heating should cause paint to burn off regardless of heat-resistant materials or thermal-protection performance.

Kim Jong-sik, a vice department head of the Workers’ Party Central Committee, said South Korea’s confrontational ambitions justified North Korea’s arms buildup.

Published Oct 17, 2026 12:20 am KST

South Korea test-fires a hypersonic glide vehicle from the Agency for Defense Development for the first time on Oct. 8, 2026, in this file photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae. Yonhap

North Korea renewed its attack on South Korea's recent hypersonic weapon test Friday, rejecting Seoul's explanation that advanced materials prevented the weapon from showing burn marks and using the South's weapons development to justify its own arms buildup.

The latest dispute comes as the two Koreas offer conflicting assessments of the technology demonstrated in South Korea's first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) on Oct. 8. North Korea initially questioned the test's success, arguing the vehicle must have failed to reach hypersonic speeds because photos showed no soot on its surface.

Seoul's defense ministry countered that the vehicle was equipped with advanced thermal-protection technology and that visible soot was not necessarily expected during hypersonic flight.

On Friday, Pyongyang fired back at the defense, calling Seoul's explanation "far-fetched."

"It's not a matter of heat-resistant materials or thermal protection performance," Kim Jong-sik, a vice department head of the Workers' Party Central Committee, said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Seoul made "the far-fetched claim that it was 'thanks to the excellent performance of domestically developed heat-resistant materials,' but no country's technology can prevent paint from burning off due to a rise in surface temperature caused by aerodynamic heating," Kim argued.

Criticizing South Korea's plan to further develop technologies for weaponizing hypersonic glide vehicles, he said, "The confrontational ambitions of our vicious enemies have provided us with the most reasonable justification for strengthening our defense capabilities."

The test came amid heightened inter-Korean tensions following a recent land mine explosion in the border area that injured three South Korean soldiers.

The test was intended to evaluate high-temperature thermal protection materials, guidance and control systems, and the vehicle's ability to maneuver unpredictably at low altitudes.

朝鲜驳斥了韩国对其10月8日高超音速滑翔飞行器试射中未发现烟尘的解释。平壤称首尔关于使用先进隔热材料的说法牵强附会，并以韩国的武器研发为例，证明其加强自身防御能力的合理性。此前，一枚地雷爆炸导致三名韩国士兵受伤，朝韩关系因此高度紧张，此次争端正是在此背景下发生的。

该测试评估了高温热防护材料、制导和控制系统以及车辆在低空进行不可预测机动的能力。

朝鲜方面认为，无论耐热材料或隔热性能如何，空气动力加热都会导致油漆烧掉。

朝鲜劳动党中央委员会副部长金钟植表示，韩国的对抗野心为朝鲜扩充军备提供了正当理由。

发布于2026年10月17日凌晨12:20（韩国标准时间）

这张由青瓦台提供的资料照片显示，韩国国防发展局于2026年10月8日首次试射了一架高超音速滑翔飞行器。（韩联社）

朝鲜周五再次抨击韩国最近的高超音速武器试验，拒绝接受首尔方面关于先进材料使该武器没有出现烧痕的解释，并利用韩国的武器研发来为其自身的军备扩张辩护。

最新的争端源于朝韩双方对韩国10月8日首次试射高超音速滑翔飞行器（HGV）所展示的技术提出了相互矛盾的评估。朝鲜最初质疑此次试验的成功，认为该飞行器一定未能达到高超音速，因为照片显示其表面没有烟尘。

首尔国防部反驳说，该飞行器配备了先进的热防护技术，高超音速飞行过程中不一定会出现可见的烟尘。

周五，平壤方面反驳了首尔的辩解，称其解释“牵强附会”。

“这不是耐热材料或隔热性能的问题，”朝鲜劳动党中央委员会副部长金钟植在朝鲜中央通讯社发布的一份声明中表示。

金先生辩称，首尔方面“提出了牵强的说法，称这是‘得益于国产耐热材料的优异性能’，但没有任何国家的技术能够阻止油漆因空气动力加热导致表面温度升高而烧掉”。

他批评韩国进一步发展高超音速滑翔飞行器武器化技术的计划，并表示：“我们凶残敌人的对抗野心为我们加强国防能力提供了最合理的理由。”

此次试验正值朝韩关系高度紧张之际，此前边境地区发生地雷爆炸，造成三名韩国士兵受伤。

该测试旨在评估高温隔热材料、制导和控制系统以及车辆在低空进行不可预测机动的能力。