North Korea says it successfully conducted its first ground tests of new-type high-thrust solid-fuel engines for intermediate ballistic missiles.
The country's state media reported on Wednesday that the tests of the first-stage engine and the second-stage engine were carried out on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.
Pyongyang has repeated test launches of liquid fuel-type intermediate ballistic missiles, flying some of them over Japan. Countries concerned are on the alert ahead of Saturday when North Korea is expected to celebrate its newly designated "missile industry day."