North Korea tests powerful missile engine capable of striking US mainland

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of a high-thrust, solid-fuel engine for weapons and hailed it as a key step in strengthening the country’s strategic military capabilities, state media reported on Sunday.

The test signals Pyongyang’s continued push to expand and modernize a missile arsenal capable of reaching the United States mainland. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the newly upgraded engine uses composite carbon fiber materials and achieved a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilotons—up from roughly 1,971 kilotons recorded in a similar test last September.

Analysts say the increased engine power could support efforts to deploy multiple warheads on a single missile, improving the chances of penetrating US missile defenses. KCNA did not specify the exact time or location of the test.

The development comes days after Kim addressed North Korea’s parliament, vowing to cement the country’s status as a nuclear power and accusing the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” in an apparent reference to tensions linked to the Middle East conflict.

The engine test is part of North Korea’s ongoing five-year military development plan, which focuses on enhancing “strategic strike means”—widely understood to refer to nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) targeting the continental US.

Kim described the latest test as having “great significance” in elevating the country’s military strength to a new level, KCNA reported.

In recent years, North Korea has conducted multiple ICBM tests demonstrating potential range to reach the US mainland, particularly with solid-fuel missiles that are harder to detect before launch compared to older liquid-fuel systems.

While some experts believe North Korea still faces technical challenges—such as ensuring warheads can survive atmospheric reentry—others argue the country’s long-running nuclear and missile programs may have already overcome such hurdles.

Pyongyang has accelerated efforts to expand its nuclear arsenal since diplomatic engagement with then US President Donald Trump broke down in 2019. Although Kim has left the door open for future talks, he continues to insist that Washington drop its demand for denuclearization as a precondition for negotiations.