A man watches a TV news showing images that North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper reports of the ground test of a high-powered engine of a carrier rocket and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the country’s Sohae Space Center, at Seoul Railway station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. North Korean leader Kim has overseen a ground test of a new rocket engine and ordered a satellite launch preparation, state media said Tuesday, an indication the country might soon conduct a prohibited long-range rocket launch. The letters read “Kim Jong Un directed the ground test of a high-powered engine of a carrier rocket for a geo-stationary satellite.” (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea says it has successfully carried out a ground test of a new engine for space launch vehicle in a possible indication the country might conduct a prohibited long-range rocket launch soon.
The United Nations and others view the North’s space launch development project as a cover for tests of missile technology, as ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.
The North’s state media said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong Un guided the ground test of a high-powered engine of a carrier rocket for a geo-stationary satellite.
Kim was quoted as ordering officials to complete preparations for a satellite launch as soon as possible.
Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, the country’s most powerful to date.
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