North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a ground test of an upgraded solid-fuel rocket engine, state media reported today, in the latest sign of Pyongyang's push to enhance its strategic weapons arsenal.
The test likely indicates Mr Kim is intent on enlarging and modernising an arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States mainland.
The report came days after Mr Kim delivered a speech at North Korea's parliament pledging to irreversibly cement his country's status as a nuclear power and accusing the US of global "state terrorism and aggression", in an apparent reference to the war in the Middle East.
Solid-fuel engines enable faster launches as they require little preparation before ignition and the extra thrust generated allows missiles to carry multiple warheads, which can overwhelm defence systems.
The test of the solid-fuel engine made of composite carbon fibre material was "part of the national defence development plan in the period of the new five-year plan", Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Pursuing the high-thrust engines "conforms with the national strategy and the military demand for modernising the strategic forces", Mr Kim was quoted as saying by the news agency, which did not disclose the date or location of the test.
The latest engine being tested produced a higher thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, KCNA reported.
The development demonstrates North Korea's "resolve to acquire missiles capable of hitting targets around the globe", Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP.
"Given the increased maximum thrust, this indicates its intention to possess ICBMs with global strike range, as well as the ability to overwhelm missile defence systems," he added.
It was the first officially confirmed high-thrust solid-fuel engine test since September last year, when state media said an engine generated a maximum thrust of 1,971 kilonewtons.
Photos released by the news agency showed Kim inspecting what appeared to be part of the engine, flanked by officials.
Another image showed flames erupting from a ground-mounted engine, illuminating the surrounding test site in orange light.
Mr Kim added that North Korea's defence capabilities had entered "a significant phase of change" in the building up of its strategic forces.
Mr Kim also visited a special forces training base, according to a separate KCNA report, inspecting drills in which photos showed soldiers wielding weapons, including an axe and a sledgehammer.
The demonstration "showed the physical and technical ability they have prepared to be a match for a hundred combatants with iron fists", KCNA said.
Additional reporting: PA
