North Korea has unveiled a new hypersonic missile called Hwasong-11Ma during a military exhibition in Pyongyang.
The weapon, which can be launched from a 10-wheeled vehicle capable of carrying two units, is derived from the short-range ballistic missile series Hwasong-11 but replaces the traditional warhead with an unpowered glide vehicle, designed to hit targets at speeds above Mach 5 and perform unpredictable maneuvers.
There is still limited information on the new model, also called Hwasong-11E, but it is believed to be based on enlarged versions of the Hwasong-11 developed to carry conventional warheads up to 4.5 tons or nuclear warheads. Experts suggest the project may have received technical support from Russia and China, countries that already operate hypersonic missiles and have strengthened ties with Pyongyang.
The new weapon represents an attempt by Kim Jong Un’s regime to respond to the strengthening of U.S. and South Korean missile defenses.
The development of the Hwasong-11Ma also reflects lessons learned from the use of North Korean missiles by Russia in the Ukraine war, which were upgraded and became harder to intercept. With the new model, North Korea aims to expand its strike capability against strategic targets and reinforce its missile arsenal, which already includes train-launched, silo-based, submarine-launched, and ground vehicle-launched versions.
The country is expected to conduct public tests soon to demonstrate the new missile’s capabilities.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @NSTRIKE1231 | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
🇰🇵🚀 North Korea has unveiled a new hypersonic missile, the Hwasong-11Ma, which flies toward its target at speeds of 6,000 km/h and higher. It may later be adopted into service by Russia as well.
🔹 Its “predecessor,” the Hwasong-11Da, is equipped with a 2,500-kilogram warhead… pic.twitter.com/2Gm6I9oRHV
— NSTRIKE (@NSTRIKE1231) October 6, 2025
