Kim Jong-un guides ground jet test of rocket engine

Pyongyang, Sep 20: North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-un guided a ground jet test of a new-type high-powered engine of carrier rocket for geo-stationary satellite, authorities said on Tuesday.

The test was aimed to confirm the feature of combustion chamber, operation accuracy of the valves and control system and structural reliability of the engine, state-run KCNA news agency said in a report citing the authorities.

The successful manufacturing of the engine provided a guarantee for developing the carrier rocket for geo-stationary satellite during the country's five-year national aerospace development programme and enable to launch various kinds of satellites at a world level, the report said.

The thrust of a single engine and other indexes were proved to have "accurately reached estimated values" and the feature values stayed stable during the working time, Xinhua news agency reported citing the report.

Kim was satisfied with the test result and requested the officials and scientists to "round off the preparations for launching the satellite as soon as possible on the basis of the successful test," said the report.

Kim said that an emphasis should be put on satellite development and more satellites for different uses be launched with indigenous efforts and technology, in a bid to turn the country into a possessor of geo-stationary satellites in a couple of years to come.

On February 7, North Korea launched a newly developed earth observation satellite "Kwangmyongsong-4".

The country launched the three-stage Unha-3 rocket to deliver the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite into orbit in December 2012.