North Korea tests missile that it claims can target U.S. mainland

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, state media reported Sunday, calling it a significant development in bolstering the country’s strategic military arsenal.

Engine Test Details

The test aligns with Kim’s stated goal of acquiring more agile, hard-to-detect missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim observed the ground jet test of the engine, which utilizes a composite carbon fiber material. The engine’s maximum thrust is 2,500 kilonewtons, an increase from approximately 1,970 kilonewtons recorded in a similar test in September.

An undated photo released by the North Korean government depicts the engine test at an undisclosed location. The event was not covered by independent reporters, but the photo shows a large jet of flame emanating from the missile.

Arms Build-Up and Strategic Implications

The test was conducted as part of a five-year arms build-up plan aimed at upgrading “strategic strike means,” a term referring to nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and other weapons. Kim stated the engine test was of “great significance in putting the country’s strategic military muscle on the highest level,” according to KCNA.

Some experts suggest North Korea’s claims may be exaggerated, noting the lack of disclosure regarding key information like the engine’s total combustion time. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, indicated the report could be “bluffing.”

Potential for ICBM Development and International Cooperation

North Korea previously reported the September engine test as the ninth and final ground test for a solid-fuel engine intended for use in intercontinental ballistic missiles. While observers anticipated a subsequent ICBM test launch, one has not yet occurred. Lee suggests the program may be facing delays or that North Korea is pursuing a more advanced engine, potentially with assistance from Russia.

Cooperation between North Korea and Russia has deepened in recent years, with North Korea sending troops and conventional weapons to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.

North Korea has recently displayed long-range missiles, called Hwasong-20s, during military parades. State media has described these as the country’s “most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system.”

Possessing more powerful and efficient solid-fuel engines would enable North Korea to develop smaller ICBMs deployable from submarines or mobile launch trucks. Some analysts believe increasing engine power is linked to efforts to equip missiles with multiple warheads to overcome U.S. defense systems.

North Korea has accelerated its nuclear arsenal expansion since diplomatic talks with U.S. President Donald Trump ended in 2019. Kim has expressed openness to dialogue with Trump but maintains that Washington must abandon demands for nuclear disarmament as a precondition for negotiations.