How North Korea Experts Analyze Kim Jong Un’s Personal Attendance at the Solid Fuel Engine Test

North Korea Continues Testing Various New Weapons
Frequent Military Provocations Since 2024
U.S. State Department Urges North Korea to Return to Diplomacy

North Korea has revealed that it has successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid fuel engine for an intermediate-range hypersonic missile, a new type of weapon.

The North Korean media outlet Rodong Sinmun reported on the 20th that, under Kim Jong Un’s guidance, the missile bureau and the engine research institute conducted a ground jet test for a multi-stage solid fuel engine to be used in an intermediate-range hypersonic missile according to the new weapon system’s development schedule.

Rodong Sinmun emphasized the test succession, stating that “the great success of grave test confirmed the timetable for the completion of the development of the new intermediate-range hypersonic missile weapon system.”

In response, Kim Jong Un stated that “the strategic military value of this weapon system is evaluated as important as intercontinental ballistic missiles, starting from the construction of our national security environment and the operational requirements requested by the People’s Army, and the enemies are interpreting it better.”

The newspaper reported that Kim expressed great satisfaction that the development tasks in the strategic weapons sector during the next five-year plan proposed at the 8th Party Congress were brilliantly successful and completed.

North Korea had previously revealed that it conducted the first ground jet test for a large-thrust solid fuel engine for an intermediate-range ballistic missile on November 11 and 14, 2023. The first-stage engine was tested on November 11, and the second was tested separately on November 14. At the time of this experiment, North Korea publicly announced that “very satisfactory results” were achieved and emphasized the experiment succession, stating that “it was an experiment in which stability and reliability were once again verified.”

North Korea continues to conduct new weapon tests. On January 14, 2024, it conducted a test launch of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuvering warhead. This was the first military experiment and provocation in 2024, and the Ministry of Defense closely monitored North Korea’s attitude.

At the time, North Korea claimed that the purpose was to confirm the technical reliability of newly developed multi-stage large-thrust solid fuel engines, as well as the warhead’s flight process and maneuvering flight characteristics.

North Korea used the engine that first conducted the jet test in November 2023 to mount it on a missile and then proceeded with the flight test in January 2024.

Experts interpret that the ground test of the engine, which reflects the contents identified in this flight, was promoted again this time.

Experts are paying attention, suggesting the possibility that North Korea may soon conduct a test launch of a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile equipped with the newly tested engine.

While North Korea is accelerating its military provocations and weapon development, it appears to be accelerating the succession of Kim Jong Un’s successor. North Korea framed Kim and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, inspecting the training of the airborne troops in a recent photo.

Kim Ju Ae followed her father, Kim Jong Un’s actions, inspecting the military with a telescope. The military officers were behind Kim Ju Ae, confirming her position within North Korea.

Moreover, North Korean media used the word Hyangdo for Kim Ju Ae, when this word is only used for the supreme leader of North Korea. This can be interpreted as Kim Jong Un formalizing Kim Ju Ae in the successor’s position. Born in 2013, Kim Ju Ae, who resembles her father and grandfather, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, continues the Baekdu bloodline that Kim Jong Un values and has risen to the position of Kim Jong Un’s successor.

A North Korean expert explained that it is not confirmed as a successor as Kim Ju Ae’s age is young, and many variables exist. However, looking at this move by Kim Jong Un, it is predicted that there will be a gradual process for internal succession in North Korea.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s continuous military provocations are interpreted as military actions that break the peace on the Korean Peninsula and threaten the world. In response, Tony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, urged Kim Jong Un to exercise restraint.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on the 19th (local time) in response to inquiries about North Korea, “We urge North Korea to refrain from further provocative and potentially destabilizing actions and to return to diplomacy.”

The U.S. government conveyed the opinion that “we expect North Korea to participate in substantive discussions to explore new ways to manage provocative military risks and build permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

Tony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States, visited Korea on the 18th to attend the Ministerial Conference of the third Summit for Democracy in Seoul. In response to his visit and the South Korea-U.S. joint training, North Korea continues to provoke militarily, such as launching ballistic missiles into the East Sea. It’s a situation where North Korea’s military power is showing, and provocations are occurring one after another within a week.