North Korea has successfully tested new solid-fuel engines for intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM), state-run media said Wednesday, in the nuclear-armed country¡¯s latest development of a weapon capable of stealthily striking Japan.

¡°At a time when the dynamic struggle is being accelerated to bolster up the country¡¯s defense capabilities in every way, the missile industry of the DPRK has developed new-type high-thrust solid-fuel engines for intermediate-range ballistic missile again, which are of important strategic significance,¡± the North¡¯s official Korean Central News Agency reported.

It said the country had ¡°successfully conducted the first ground jet tests of the first-stage engine and the second-stage engine¡± on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.