SEOUL — North Korea conducted a ground test of an upgraded high-thrust solid-fuel engine designed for missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, state media reported Sunday, with leader Kim Jong Un overseeing the event.
The Korean Central News Agency said Kim observed the jet test of the engine, which uses composite carbon fiber material. The test achieved a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, an increase from about 1,970 kilonewtons recorded in a similar solid-fuel engine test in September. Kim described the development as a significant step to strengthen the country's strategic military capabilities.
The engine test forms part of North Korea's five-year defense plan aimed at modernizing its missile arsenal. Solid-fuel engines allow for quicker launches and greater mobility compared with liquid-fuel systems, potentially making missiles harder to detect and target. North Korea has previously test-fired intercontinental ballistic missiles, including the Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19, which it claims have sufficient range to strike targets across the U.S. mainland.
The announcement comes amid heightened global tensions, including the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran that began on Feb. 28. Those strikes have targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites, with ripple effects including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and regional involvement from groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.
South Korean and U.S. officials have monitored North Korean missile activities closely in recent years. Pyongyang has conducted multiple ICBM tests demonstrating potential long-range capabilities, though independent verification of full operational readiness often remains limited. The latest engine test is the first confirmed high-thrust solid-fuel engine trial since September.
As of Monday, no immediate reaction from the United States or South Korea to the reported test had been issued. North Korean state media released images showing Kim at the undisclosed test site. Diplomatic efforts to address the North Korean nuclear program have remained stalled, with the country continuing to advance its weapons development under its stated five-year plan.
