Kim Jong-un, chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, observed a test of a solid-fuel engine that can be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Compared with liquid-fuel engines, solid-fuel engines enable quicker launches and are easier to move and store, making them advantageous for surprise attacks.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 29th that Kim Jong-un observed a ground jet test of a high-thrust solid motor (engine) using carbon-fiber composite material. According to the agency, the engine's maximum thrust is 2,500 kN (kilonewtons). It is 26% higher than the maximum thrust (1,971 kN) of the solid engine during the ground jet test in Sep. last year. The engine may be mounted on the Hwasong-20 type, which North Korea has disclosed it is developing.
Kim Jong-un said, "This test truly carries enormous significance in raising the nation's strategic military power to the strongest level," adding that it "fully satisfies the national strategy and the military requirements for the modernization of the strategic forces."
Kim Jong-un also observed an evaluation test of the interception capability of a new main battle tank at the Academy of Defense Sciences' Armored Weapons Institute. The agency reported that in an inspection test of the tank's active protection system, which examined the combat effectiveness of the protection system against anti-tank means from various directions, the 100% defensive function was confirmed to be perfect.
Kim Jong-un said, "The functionality of the new main battle tank's interception system has demonstrably achieved a thorough neutralization capability against almost all existing anti-tank means."
He went on, "We once again confirmed that there is no room for doubt in our already declared view that there is no tank in the world comparable to this tank."