North Korea develops ballistic missile that can reach the US

Published March 29th, 2026 - 11:32 GMT
North Korean ballistic missile
People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 8, 2025. Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP

ALBAWABA - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of a new solid-fuel, high-thrust rocket engine on Sunday. The engine could be used in a new ballistic missile, which could potentially reach the United States.

The official Korean news agency, Yonhap, described the event as a significant step in bolstering the country's strategic military capabilities.

According to the agency, Kim attended the ground test of the improved engine using composite carbon fibers, which had a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilotons, compared to about 1,971 kilotons, which was recorded in a previous test of a similar solid-fuel engine last September. 

The engine is believed to have been developed for use in the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile under development.