North Korea conducts engine test for long-range missile
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a test of an upgraded high-thrust solid-fuel engine, which state media described as a significant advancement for the country’s strategic military capabilities.
- The tested engine reportedly has a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilotons, an increase from the 1,970 kilotons seen in a similar test last September, using composite carbon fiber materials.
- Experts remain skeptical about North Korea’s claims, noting missing details such as combustion time and suggesting possible delays or ongoing development, potentially with Russian technical assistance.
- North Korea’s development of solid-fuel engines aims to produce more agile, harder-to-detect missiles, including smaller ICBMs launchable from submarines or mobile platforms, possibly equipped with multiple warheads.
- Despite past claims of successful weapons tests, outside analysts caution that North Korea still faces technical challenges, such as ensuring warhead survival during atmospheric reentry, though some dispute these concerns given the program’s longevity.
