North Korea tests missile that it claims can target U.S. mainland
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel missile engine with a reported maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, marking a significant development in the country's strategic military capabilities, according to state media.
- The solid-fuel engine, using composite carbon fiber material, is intended to enhance North Korea's ability to deploy more agile and harder-to-detect missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, though some experts remain skeptical about the full capabilities claimed.
- Analysts suggest North Korea's solid-fuel missile program may be experiencing delays or seeking improvements, possibly with Russian assistance, amid increased military cooperation between the two countries.
- Despite North Korea's recent missile tests and displays of long-range weapons, foreign experts debate whether the country has overcome key technological challenges like warhead atmospheric reentry survivability.
- North Korea continues to expand its nuclear arsenal following stalled diplomacy with the U.S., with Kim Jong Un signaling openness to dialogue but rejecting disarmament demands as a precondition for talks.
