---
title: "South Korea’s Lee oversees test-fire of hypersonic missile"
description: "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."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "World"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-08-south-koreas-lee-oversees-test-fire-of-hypersonic-missile/"
published: "2026-10-08T12:33:21"
updated: "2026-10-08T13:04:18"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 98
---

# South Korea’s Lee oversees test-fire of hypersonic missile

> 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.

By Reuters · Published 8 October 2026, 14:33 SAST · Updated 8 October 2026, 15:04 SAST

## Content

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)