Kim Jong Un Inspects Testing Solid-Fuel Missile Engine

(MENAFN) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the trial of a high-power solid-fuel propulsion system for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), built with composite carbon fiber materials, a news agency reported Tuesday.

According to the news agency, the Missile Administration, in cooperation with a chemical materials research institute, carried out the ground jet evaluation the day before.

This announcement came one week after Kim toured the research facility that developed the engine, where he unveiled the upcoming Hwasong-20 ICBM now in progress, stating it would incorporate the newly designed engine.

Kim highlighted that the creation of this system "heralds a significant change in expanding and strengthening the nuclear strategic forces" of North Korea, further calling it a "success assuming the most strategic nature in the recent modernization of defense technology."

As noted by the news agency, this engine trial represents the ninth test of its category and is "the last one" in its development sequence, with peak thrust recorded at 1,971 kilonewtons.

North Korea’s most recent ICBM launch before this occurred on Oct. 31, 2024, when the solid-fuel Hwasong-19 was tested, described at that time as "an ICBM of ultimate version."

The new Hwasong-20 stands as the latest model in the country’s missile arsenal, with the finalized engine expected to accelerate its advancement.

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