The Central Telegraph Agency of Korea (CTAK) reports that Kim Jong Un attended the test and described it as a "significant event" for enhancing the country's strategic weapons under the five-year defense development plan.
This new engine, made of carbon composite, is capable of generating a maximum thrust of up to 2,500 kilonewtons, which exceeds the performance of a similar solid-fuel engine tested in September of last year (1,970 kilonewtons).
However, South Korean experts point out that Pyongyang did not disclose important characteristics, such as the engine's operational duration, which may indicate a possible exaggeration of the claimed data.
In recent years, North Korea has actively conducted intercontinental missile tests, demonstrating capabilities that allow them to reach the continental United States. AP notes that among these missiles are models with solid-fuel engines, making them harder to detect before launch compared to outdated liquid systems.
