North Korea has conducted a test of a tactical ballistic missile. According to the country’s state media, the test was carried out to further enhance a crucial component of its weapons system and has been hailed as a “major success.” This news comes just a day after the South Korean military detected multiple ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s missile administration tested a tactical ballistic missile on October 12. The objective was to verify the success of research aimed at upgrading a key technical component. This upgrade proved to be a major success, signaling a significant shift towards improving the capabilities and technical standards of all offensive weapon systems. North Korea described the test as part of its routine activities; however, it did not share specific technical details regarding the missile. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had previously reported that North Korea launched various types of ballistic missiles, with one covering a distance of over 900 kilometers. Officials from South Korea and the US are currently conducting a detailed analysis of their technical specifications. JCS spokesperson Captain Jang Do-young stated on Tuesday, “It is possible that North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile to its maximum range, or that it launched a medium-range ballistic missile for a short-range test.” Reportedly, short-range ballistic missiles have a range of 300 to 1,000 kilometers, whereas medium-range missiles can strike targets between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometers away. Jang stated that the joint defense preparedness of South Korea and the United States is robust, and both nations are fully capable of detecting and intercepting North Korea’s recent missiles. Immediately following Monday’s launch, Japan’s Ministry of Defense also reported that North Korea had fired at least two ballistic missiles; one traveled approximately 220 kilometers, while the other covered a distance of over 910 kilometers. US Pacific Command (PACOM) also confirmed on Monday that the recent North Korean launch involved two ballistic missiles. Monday’s launch marked North Korea’s 16th ballistic missile test of the year; the previous launch had taken place on October 3. This test occurred four days after South Korea publicly announced the successful test of its indigenous hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV)—an event attended by President Lee Jae-myung. Hypersonic missiles are often considered “game-changers” on the battlefield because they can fly at speeds of Mach 5 or higher and follow trajectories distinct from those of conventional missiles, making them extremely difficult to track and intercept. Analysts believe that South Korea’s decision to publicize the test of its advanced weaponry was an attempt to send a message to North Korea and demonstrate its own deterrence capabilities. This move followed a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21, which left three South Korean soldiers injured.