Part 11/15:
In a concerning development, North Korea announced the successful testing of a new, more powerful solid-fuel rocket engine, bringing Pyongyang closer to deploying intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Leader Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the test, which they described as an "eye-opening" breakthrough.
The engine, built with carbon fiber and generating nearly 2,000 kilonewtons of thrust—comparable to seven Boeing 747 engines—represents a significant technological step forward. Typically, solid-fuel engines confer advantages such as quicker launch readiness, increased concealment, and harder preemptive interception.