North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a trial of a potent, solid-fuel engine, praising it as a breakthrough to enhance the nation’s strategic military capacity, according to state media reports on Sunday. The test suggests Kim’s determination to expand and modernize an array of missiles capable of reaching the United States mainland.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released the report on Sunday, following Kim’s recent address to North Korea’s parliament vowing to firmly establish his country as a nuclear power and condemning the U.S. for global “state terrorism and aggression,” likely referring to conflicts in the Middle East.
According to KCNA, Kim personally witnessed the ground test of the newly enhanced engine utilizing a composite carbon fiber material. The engine now boasts a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilotons, an increase from the reported 1,971 kilotons in a similar test last September. Analysts suggest the drive to boost engine power aims to equip missiles with multiple warheads to improve the odds of overcoming U.S. defenses.
The exact timing and location of the test were not disclosed by KCNA. The trial aligns with North Korea’s five-year military enhancement strategy, focused on upgrading “strategic strike means” to potentially include nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. mainland.
Kim emphasized the significance of the latest engine test in elevating the country’s strategic military capabilities to their peak level, as per KCNA’s report. North Korea has conducted numerous ICBM tests in recent years, showcasing the potential to reach the U.S. mainland with solid propellant missiles that are harder to detect pre-launch compared to older liquid-fuel variants.
While some international experts point out technological challenges for North Korea to develop a functional ICBM, like ensuring warhead survivability during atmospheric reentry, others argue the nation’s considerable investment in nuclear and missile programs over the years.
Following the breakdown of Kim’s diplomacy with former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, North Korea has aggressively expanded its nuclear arsenal. During a Workers’ Party congress in February, Kim hinted at potential dialogue with Trump while urging the U.S. to reconsider its demands for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament as a prerequisite for negotiations.