North Korea tested a hypersonic missile during Blinken's visit to South Korea.

On Monday, January 6, North Korea conducted what is believed to be a hypersonic missile launch towards the Sea of Japan. The launch occurred during the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to South Korea, reported Reuters.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea stated that the missile, which may be hypersonic, traveled approximately 1100 km and landed in the water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The JCS labeled the missile launch a provocation and condemned North Korea for threatening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

It was noted that North Korea conducted the missile launch while Antony Blinken was in Seoul. At a press conference following the diplomatic meeting, he condemned the missile launch and expressed concern regarding the growing ties between North Korea and Russia in the context of the war against Ukraine.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that the North Korean missile fell outside the exclusive economic zone. There have been no reports of damage to ships or aircraft.

Recall that at the end of October, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan. The missile covered a distance of approximately 1000 km in 86 minutes, reaching a record altitude of over 7000 km. The North Korean missile test was condemned by several Western democracies.