(Pyongyang Rodong Sinmun = News1) The North Korean Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on the 2nd that Kim Jong-un, the Party’s General Secretary, departed on a special train on the 1st to attend the 80th anniversary event of China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War (Victory Day) and crossed the border on the morning of the 2nd. [For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] rodongphoto@news1.kr Copyright (C) News1. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution, and AI learning use prohibited.
Kim Jong-un, right before attending China’s Victory Day event, visited an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) solid fuel engine research institute, suggesting the development of a new ICBM ‘Hwasong-20’.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 2nd that Kim visited the Chemical Material General Research Institute under the Missile General Bureau on the 1st, met with experts in carbon fiber composite materials research, and received a report on research achievements.
According to the report, the institute produced a high-power solid engine using carbon fiber composite materials under the defense science core technology development plan approved at the 9th Plenary Meeting. Over the past two years, they verified the engine’s reliability and accuracy through eight ground ejection tests. On that day, Kim inspected the test results and discussed the future establishment of a specialized series production base.
The agency also stated, “The maximum thrust of the new solid propulsion engine using carbon fiber composite materials is 1960 kN and is planned to be used in the intercontinental ballistic missile ‘Hwasong-19’ series and the next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile ‘Hwasong-20’.”
After inspecting the research institute, Kim commended it as a “significant achievement predicting a major transformation in strengthening and expanding our strategic missile power,” suggesting a high-level national award for the institute’s scientists.
Previously, North Korea announced the success of the new ICBM ‘Hwasong-19’ test launch last November, claiming it to be the “final version ICBM” to be operated alongside the existing ‘Hwasong-18’.
Meanwhile, Kim departed Pyongyang Station on the afternoon of the 1st to attend the 80th anniversary event of China’s victory and crossed the border on the morning of the 2nd.
Kim’s move to push for new ICBM development right before visiting China is seen as an exhibition of deterrence against the U.S. His visit to China is evaluated as a strategic move to strengthen the North Korea-China-Russia alliance with potential future North Korea-U.S. talks in mind.
Analysts think that Kim’s inspection of the newly established comprehensive missile production process site at an important munitions plant on August 31st is of a similar context. Kim stated, “A modernized production process has been established,” and “the national missile production capacity has exponentially increased.”