On August 8, a thunderous boom echoed across the Korean Peninsula. According to KCNA, North Korea’s Missile General Bureau and Chemical Materials Research Institute jointly carried out a major ground ignition test of a large solid-fuel rocket engine, with Kim Jong-un personally overseeing the trial.
The new engine, built with carbon-fiber composite materials, reportedly reached a maximum thrust of 1,971 kilonewtons. This was the ninth and final test run, marking the completion of the development stage. For North Korea, this means the “heart” of its next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is essentially ready.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency speculated that Pyongyang may soon move to deploy new ICBM systems based on this engine.
Interestingly, Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao noted that just before his visit to China, Kim Jong-un inspected a domestic chemical materials institute, focusing on the production process of carbon-fiber composites and large solid-fuel engines. The implication was clear: North Korea’s latest success may be linked to “lessons learned” from China.
Why Solid Fuel Engines Matter
For ICBMs, engines are everything. Until recently, North Korea relied mainly on liquid-fuel engines. These have great power but also fatal drawbacks:
- Slow preparation: Liquid fuel must be filled right before launch, giving adversaries enough time to strike first.
- Difficult maintenance: The fuel is highly corrosive and dangerous to store, posing constant risks of leaks and accidents.
Solid-fuel engines are a game-changer. They work like “strike-anywhere matches”—preloaded and ready to fire within minutes of an order. This drastically shortens launch time and increases survivability.
But developing such engines requires access to advanced composite materials, especially carbon fiber. Lightweight yet strong, heat-resistant, and corrosion-proof, carbon fiber is the strategic backbone of modern solid-fuel missiles.
Unsurprisingly, carbon fiber is one of the most tightly controlled “dual-use” materials on the global market. The U.S. and its allies have long imposed strict export bans on it, making independent production extremely difficult for North Korea.
China’s Subtle Role
So, where could Pyongyang turn for inspiration? The answer seems obvious: China.
Before visiting Beijing, Kim Jong-un had already toured his country’s chemical research facilities, clearly with a focus on carbon fiber. His trip to China appears to have provided insights and direction rather than direct technology transfer.
It is important to stress: China has never transferred complete missile technology to North Korea—that remains a firm red line. However, long-standing scientific exchanges and economic cooperation between the two sides may have helped North Korea avoid missteps in materials science and industrial processes.
This explains why, less than a year after testing the “Hwasong-19,” North Korea is now rushing ahead with a potential “Hwasong-20.” The speed of this transition suggests external inspiration and knowledge-sharing, not just closed-door development.
A “Mentor, Not an Enabler”
In this sense, China’s role is more like a mentor than an enabler. By offering limited inspiration without crossing into direct military assistance, Beijing maintains its traditional friendship with Pyongyang while keeping regional stability in mind.
Kim Jong-un’s latest achievements therefore reflect both North Korea’s determination and China’s quiet influence. The “loud boom” on August 8 was not just the sound of a rocket engine—it was also the echo of lessons learned across the border.
References:
- KCNA, August 2025 coverage of North Korea’s solid-fuel engine test
- Yonhap News Agency analysis on ICBM development trends
- Lianhe Zaobao reporting on Kim Jong-un’s pre-China visit inspections
- U.S. and allied export control lists on carbon fiber technology
