North Korea announced Thursday that its latest missile launches tested a new hypersonic weapon system aimed at strengthening its nuclear deterrent, as leader Kim Jong Un continues to expand his arsenal designed to outmatch South Korea’s defenses.

The statement from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) came a day after South Korea’s military reported that the North fired multiple missiles from an area south of Pyongyang. The projectiles reportedly flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles) northeast before landing on land within North Korean territory.

The tests were conducted just days before world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to gather in Seoul for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

U.S. Forces Korea said it was “fully aware” of the launches and North Korea’s “relentless pursuit of long-range missile capabilities,” urging Pyongyang to cease “unlawful and destabilizing actions” that violate U.N. Security Council sanctions. The U.S. military also reaffirmed that its commitment to the alliance with South Korea remains “ironclad.”

According to KCNA, the launches involved two hypersonic projectiles that accurately hit a land-based target in the country’s northern region. The report described the system as “strategic,” suggesting it is designed to carry nuclear warheads. However, KCNA did not name the missile system tested.

At a military parade earlier this month, Kim unveiled several new weapons, including what appeared to be a short-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle.

In recent years, North Korea has repeatedly tested missile systems incorporating hypersonic technology — weapons that can travel more than five times the speed of sound and maneuver mid-flight to evade missile defenses. However, experts have expressed skepticism over whether Pyongyang’s systems have consistently achieved the speeds it claims.

Pak Jong Chon, one of Kim’s top military aides who observed Wednesday’s test, praised the “new cutting-edge weapon system” and said the North would continue enhancing its war deterrent and defense capabilities.

During the October 10 parade, Kim also showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile described by state media as North Korea’s most powerful nuclear weapon to date. Analysts believe the regime could test that missile in the coming weeks, ahead of a major ruling party meeting in early 2026, where Kim is expected to outline key policy directions, potentially including his stance toward the United States.

Kim has accelerated weapons testing since the collapse of his nuclear talks with Trump in 2019 over disagreements on U.S.-led sanctions.

Wednesday’s launches were also North Korea’s first ballistic missile tests since South Korea’s liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, took office in June. Lee has pledged to revive peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, but Kim has so far rejected Seoul’s offers for dialogue, insisting he will not return to talks with Washington unless the U.S. abandons its demand for North Korean denuclearization.