North Korea on Sunday said it tested a high-thrust engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile, a step South Korean officials warned was “meaningful” progress. North Korean state media announced the test, saying it was a step toward world-class satellite launch ability, Reuters reported. The test comes as the US and South Korea are engaged in the annual, large-scale Foal Eagle exercises and weeks after the US began deploying the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense missile system. The test included the firing of a main engine and four auxiliary engines as a step in the development of a rocket booster, according to Reuters. The South Korean Defense Ministry said the test shows meaningful progress in engine function, but more analysis is needed. North Korean state media hailed the test as a “new birth” of its rocket industry.
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