Solid-fuel engines are characterized by their high thrust and faster launch procedures.
Hwasong-20 missiles
Experts reported that this engine is designed to power missiles that North Korea unveiled in October, which are aimed at reaching the United States.
Analyst Hong Min, from the South Korean Institute for National Unification, noted that this test confirms “Pyongyang’s determination to possess missiles capable of striking targets anywhere in the world.”.
Strategic capabilities
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not specify the date or location of the test, but stated that it was part of the “main objective of modernizing strategic offensive capabilities,” adding that the engine was made of a carbon fiber composite material.
KCNA quoted Kim Jong Un as saying, while overseeing the test, that North Korea’s defense capabilities had entered a “fundamental transformation.”
UN sanctions
North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are subject to severe UN sanctions.
Pyongyang justifies developing its capabilities in this area by citing threats it says it faces from the United States and its allies, including South Korea.
A similar engine test was conducted in early September 2025.
