North Korea tests new hypersonic intermediate-range missile

North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had conducted a successful test of a new solid fuel hypersonic intermediate-range missile, something leader Kim Jong Un said marked the completion of his ambitions to arm his country with solid fuel nuclear missiles. The launch of the missile was confirmed a day before the official announcement by the Japanese and South Korean militaries. Describing the new Hwasong-16B missile as a crucial component of his nuclear deterrence strategy, Kim Jong Un, who also supervised the test, pledged to bolster his country’s nuclear capabilities to rival those of the United States.