President watches South Korea’s first hypersonic glide vehicle test launch

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung observed the first test launch of a domestically developed hypersonic glide vehicle on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the Agency for Defense Development test site. The vehicle separated from its booster rocket at the planned altitude, descended and maneuvered vertically and horizontally, then struck its designated target. The weapon is designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound. Lee also inspected the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile the same day. Lee said South Korea must further advance hypersonic glide vehicles so that they can establish themselves as dependable strategic assets safeguarding our security. He said the country must secure our security through our own strength. He has also said it must further accelerate the advancement of missile technologies such as hypersonic missiles, as well as the construction of nuclear-powered submarines, which are key to self-reliant national defense. The test followed North Korea's Oct. 3 hypersonic missile launch witnessed by Kim Jong Un. KCNA said it flew over 1,000 km; South Korea detected over 700 km and Japan assessed about 680 km. Kim Yo Jong claimed South Korea and Japan failed to track it. Three South Korean soldiers were injured in a DMZ land mine blast last month. A joint South Korea-UN Command investigation concluded North Korean mines caused the blast. The U.S. scaled back a major joint military exercise with South Korea in August.