Overview

• State media said Kim Jong Un oversaw the ninth and final ground trial of a carbon‑fiber composite engine rated at about 1,971 kilonewtons of thrust.
• The engine is slated for future long‑range missiles, including the newly unveiled Hwasong‑20, according to North Korea’s Missile Administration.
• South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul and Washington are closely tracking the program, offering no assessment of the engine’s performance.
• The disclosure followed Kim’s high‑profile trip to Beijing where he appeared with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and Seoul officials called the announcement an outward‑facing message.
• Experts note solid‑fuel propulsion shortens launch preparation and aids concealment, while North Korea’s thrust claims and warhead reentry reliability remain unverified.