The test was conducted amid global condemnation of the North’s fifth nuclear test this month and a call by the United States, Japan and South Korea this week for greater pressure on Pyongyang for its disregard for United Nations resolutions banning missile and nuclear programs.
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North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year under Kim’s direction, including the launch of a satellite in February that was widely seen as a test of long-range ballistic missile technology.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has successfully conducted a ground test of a new rocket engine, Yonhap quoted DPRK’s state-run news agency as reporting on Tuesday.
Kim visited the Sohae Space Center in the North’s western region to guide the test and the successful manufacturing of the rocket engine “made it possible to acquire sufficient carrier capability for launching various kinds of satellite” and was greatly satisfied with the test results, the KCNA said.
Jeon Ha-kyu, a spokesman at South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said South Korea believes the test was for a new engine for a long-range missile.
In August, twisted Kim tested a submarine ballistic missile, with experts noting the latest set of tests showed considerable progress.
It comes just weeks after Pyongyang officials said a “nuclear warhead explosion” has been carried out.
He said the North had made cutting-edge scientific advances “despite the hard economic conditions of the country”, the report said.
The U.N. Security Council imposed additional sanctions on North Korea in March because of the rocket launch and its fourth nuclear test at the beginning of this year.
Kim Jong-un supervised the test at the country’s Sohae satellite-launching site, KCNA reported.
It sparked calls from Britain, France and the USA for new sanctions, with the UN Security Council saying these will be considered as part of “significant measures” against Pyongyang.
The act drew worldwide condemnation amid concerns about the acceleration of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
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Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North had set a five-year space development programme that ends this year.
