Kim Jong Un described the missile test as a crucial achievement in his goals to bolster North Korea's nuclear deterrence. Lee Sung Joon, Spokesperson of South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, downplayed the test,

North Korea's claim of what it called a successful launch of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) tipped with a hypersonic warhead is presumed to be "deception," South Korea's military said Tuesday.

North Korea launched a medium-range ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s military confirmed.