首尔，10月15日 - 朝鲜导弹总局局长张昌河表示，韩国新近测试的高超声速滑翔飞行器可能未能实现其宣称的高超声速飞行，朝鲜中央通讯社周四报道。
SEOUL, Oct 15 - North Korea's missile chief said South Korea's newly tested hypersonic glide vehicle may not have achieved hypersonic flight as claimed, state media KCNA reported on Thursday.
张昌河在朝鲜中央电视台发表讲话时表示，韩国在10月8日测试后发布的照片中未见与高超声速飞行相关的明显迹象。
Jang Chang Ha, head of North Korea's Missile Administration, said photographs released by South Korea after its October 8 test showed no visible signs associated with hypersonic flight.
“其外观如此干净，涂层油漆完好无损，未沾任何煤烟，很难相信它曾经历以极高温度为特征的高超声速飞行条件，”张昌河说。
"It is hard to believe that it underwent hypersonic flight circumstances characterised by extremely high temperatures as its outside appearance is so clean with its coating paint remaining intact, not stained with any soot," said Jang.
针对朝鲜的言论，韩国国防部在一份声明中表示，该导弹采用耐热材料制造，因此没有出现煤烟。
Responding to the North Korean remarks, South Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement that the missile was designed with heat-resistant materials, which is why it didn't have any soot.
“展望未来，我们军方计划在将HGV武器化的过程中进一步推进相关技术，HGV是未来安全的关键战略资产，”国防部表示。
"Going forward, our military plans to further advance the related technologies as it moves to weaponise the HGV, a key strategic asset for future security," the ministry said.
高超声速武器通常以超过音速五倍的速度飞行，常在相对较低的高度航行，分析人士指出其主要特点是机动性，以便打击目标。
Hypersonic weapons typically travel at more than five times the speed of sound, often at relatively low altitudes, with analysts noting their main feature as manoeuvrability to hit targets.
韩国总统李在明上月监督了该国首次高超声速试射，总统办公室称。
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country's first hypersonic test-firing last month, the presidential office said.
韩国总统罕见公开展示导弹测试是在朝鲜半岛紧张局势加剧、各方竞相研发能够规避导弹防御的武器之际进行的。
The rare public showcasing of a missile test by a South Korean president came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a race to develop weapons capable of evading missile defences.