Overview
- KCNA, in reports Sunday, said Kim Jong Un oversaw a ground firing of an upgraded solid-fuel engine built with carbon fiber that produced about 2,500 kilonewtons of thrust.
- The figure exceeds a similar test KCNA touted in September 2025 at 1,971 kilonewtons, signaling a push that experts link to heavier payloads or greater range.
- Solid fuel lets missiles launch faster with little setup, so road-mobile or submarine-launched systems become harder to spot and stop before takeoff.
- State media released photos of Kim and a ground-mounted engine but gave no date, location, or burn time, and outside experts warned the performance claims could be exaggerated.
- KCNA framed the test as part of a new five-year defense plan and paired it with Kim’s inspections of a new main battle tank and special operations training to showcase broader military upgrades.