Kim Jong Un Oversees Long-Range Missile Engine Test, KCNA Says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a ground test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine designed for long-range missiles, state media reported, marking another step in its push to further expand its nuclear arsenal.

The carbon-fiber engine had its ninth test on Monday, the last one in the development process, the Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday, suggesting a missile launch test may be coming soon. The engine’s maximum thrust was 1,971 kilonewtons, and Kim hailed its development as a breakthrough in defense modernization, KCNA said.