This picture taken and released on July 4, 2017 by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (2nd R) inspecting the test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location. North Korea declared on July 4 it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile — a watershed moment in its push to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the mainland United States. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT —EDITORS NOTE— RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. /

According to North Korea’s state-run newspaper, Kim Jong Un has ordered an increase in the production of solid fuel missile engines. Following a visit to a military research facility where Kim inspected the manufacturing process of intercontinental ballistic missile warheads, he instructed workers to increase their production of “solid-fuel rocket engines and rocket warhead tips…” The announcement comes as the United States and South Korea conduct their annual joint military exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Games.

Related Links:

North Korea presses rocket program, but amid signs of drama easing, Reuters
War Games: South Korea Warns North Not to Provoke Conflict as U.S. Military Officials Arrive in Seoul, Newsweek
N.K. leader orders production of more solid-fuel engines, ICBM warhead tips, Yonhap News