by Cameron Casalta, staff reporter

North Korea has carried out the ground test for a new highly powered rocket engine that can be used to launch satellites.

North Korea’s new rocket engine can be used to launch long-range ballistic missiles further than before. It can also be used to carry nuclear bombs. Their rocket engine can produce 80 tons of thrust. This is more than twice as much thrust as the engine it uses in its 1,300-km range Nodong missile, which produces 30 tons of thrust.

Kim Jong Un directed the ground test of the highly powered engine for a carrier rocket for a geo-stationary satellite at the Sohae Space Centre in North Korea.

North Korea has already put two satellites into orbit but it is unclear if they have communications with either satellite. The next step is to send a functioning Satellite into orbit.

There is speculation that North Korea will launch another satellite on October 10th. This date is the 71st founding anniversary of North Korea’s political Workers’ Party.

“I’m always extremely concerned about any country that uses nuclear power in a irresponsible way. North Korea acts in a way that makes them unpredictable, which is very frightening when dealing with nuclear power,” teacher Mr. Nisonoff said.

In addition, North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a nuclear warhead on September 9th. The warhead can be mounted on ballistic missiles.

Following its last nuclear test in January, this is North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and potentially the most powerful yet.