South Korea Test-Fires Hypersonic Missile Days After North Korea's Own Test
President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle his office called a "strategic asset," and urged researchers to deploy it fast.
SEOUL, Oct 8 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw test-firing of a hypersonic glide vehicle, a missile flying at low altitudes, the Korean presidential office said in a statement on Thursday.
Seoul's test came days after North Korea said its leader Kim Jong Un had also overseen his own test of an intermediate-range, hypersonic missile.
The South Korean missile is a "strategic asset" for the country, the presidential office said, adding that it was capable of striking a target by surprise with its unpredictable flight paths and overwhelming speed.
After being briefed on the successful test, President Lee called on missile researchers at a state-run institute to swiftly develop and deploy the missile, his office said.
(Reporting by Heejin Kim and Joyce LeeEditing by David Goodman and Gareth Jones)
