SEOUL: North Korea announced on Thursday that it has successfully tested a 'cutting-edge' new weapon system utilizing hypersonic missiles designed to bolster its defenses.

This recent development comes amid a week of significant international events, with world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, preparing to attend an important regional summit in South Korea.

The test, which was detected by the South Korean military on Wednesday, marks North Korea's first such launch in months and appears to demonstrate Pyongyang's commitment to enhancing its strategic deterrence capabilities against perceived threats.

According to state news agency KCNA, the test focused on improving both the sustainability and effectiveness of these defense strategies.

Pak Jong Chon, a top military official, was quoted by KCNA as stating that the new weapon system showcases North Korea's continuous advancement in self-defensive technical abilities.

Notably, Kim Jong Un, the country's leader, did not reportedly attend the launch event.

During the test, two hypersonic projectiles were launched from a location south of Pyongyang and successfully struck targets in North Korea's northeastern region.

Images provided by KCNA visually depicted the missiles in flight, hitting their targets and causing explosions characterized by black dirt and smoke.

Hypersonic missiles are known for their capability to travel at speeds exceeding five times that of sound and their ability to maneuver during flight.

These characteristics make them particularly challenging to track and intercept, thereby increasing their effectiveness as a strategic weapon system.