Kim Jong Un personally watched the test of a new solid fuel rocket engine. According to Pyongyang, the test takes North Korea’s strategic arsenal to a new level.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched the testing of a new solid-fuel rocket motor, which is part of the development of the country’s strategic arsenal, the state-run KCNA news agency reported on Sunday, as quoted by AFP.
- Kim Jong Un personally supervised the test of a new solid fuel rocket engine.
- The new North Korean engine achieved a thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, significantly exceeding the previous test.
- The solid fuel engines are intended for the new Hwasong-20 intercontinental missiles with a global range.
KCNA did not specify the exact date or location of the test. This is the first officially confirmed test of a high-performance solid fuel engine since September 2025. The new engine achieved a thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, according to KCNA, which is more than the previous test, when the maximum thrust was 1,971 kilonewtons.
Advanced rocket engines
Solid fuel engines provide high thrust and enable faster rocket launches. According to experts, these are propulsion units intended for the new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) Hwasong-20, introduced in October 2025, which, according to Pyongyang, can also hit the territory of the United States.
During the test, Kim Jong-un declared that the DPRK’s defense capabilities had entered “a significant phase of change.”
Modernization of strategic strikes
KCNA said the test was part of the “main goal of upgrading strategic strike capabilities.” According to the agency, the engine is made of composite material based on carbon fibers.
Analyst Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) told AFP the development demonstrated North Korea’s determination to “acquire missiles capable of hitting targets around the world”. According to him, the increased thrust of the engine indicates the ambition to have missiles with global reach and the ability to overcome anti-missile defense systems.
The goal: global reach
According to experts, North Korea has already mastered the technology necessary to launch missiles capable of hitting the territory of the United States even with lower engine thrust. The question remains whether it can develop missiles capable of carrying multiple warheads that would hit multiple targets in a single launch while overwhelming defense systems. Such rockets, due to their higher weight, require more powerful engines.
North Korea last tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in October 2024.
