S. Korea conducts 1st test launch of hypersonic glide vehicle amid NK tensions

South Korea conducted its first test launch of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) on Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said, in an apparent show of force against North Korea amid heightening inter-Korean tensions following a recent border land mine blast. The test launch was carried out to verify core hypersonic technologies, such as flight trajectories and speed, as a game-changing strategic asset capable of launching surprise precision strikes against enemy targets, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing to the press. President Lee Jae Myung observed the launch in person, accompanied by Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and other officials. An HGV is a missile system that uses a booster to accelerate and ascend into the upper atmosphere before separating from the booster to glide at lower altitudes at hypersonic speeds. "The HGV successfully separated from its booster and seamlessly executed its planned flight path under hypersonic conditions," the spokesperson said. "This successful launch marks a major milestone in that preparations are complete to secure a new deterrent