North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is on a visit to China, visited the Research Institute of the Center for Comprehensive Research on Chemical Materials of the DPRK Main Rocket Directorate on September 1, where he got acquainted with the results of the tests of the latest solid-fuel engine.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), it is planned to be used for the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile and the next-generation Hwasong-20.
As noted, the high-thrust solid-fuel engine is made of a composite material reinforced with carbon fibers. It has undergone ground tests for two years and the DPRK leader got acquainted with the results. Kim Jong-un “discussed the issue of establishing a specialized serial production base“, KCNA noted. The maximum thrust of the engine is 1,960 kilonewtons.
According to Kim Jong-un, the results of the work “predict major changes in strengthening the strategic missile forces and increasing their capabilities“. He proposed awarding state awards to the research institute's research associates.