North Korea's ultimate goal is to possess the world's most powerful nuclear arsenal

North Korea's official KCNA agency quoted the leader on Sunday as saying that establishing a nuclear force to protect the country and its people was "the greatest and most important revolutionary cause, and that his ultimate goal is to possess the world's most powerful strategic force, the unprecedented force of the century."

Kim Jong Un made the remarks Saturday as he promoted a dozen senior officials involved in the recent testing of the "Hwasong-17," a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). He referred to it as "the world's strongest strategic weapon.

Authorities and scientists "have made wonderful progress in developing the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles.

The latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch earlier this month was strongly condemned by the international community.

Dubbed the "monster missile" by military analysts, capable of reaching the continental United States. This intercontinental ballistic missile was tested on November 18, falling into the waters off Japan.

The regime's series of self-congratulations comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, after a record series of missile tests by Pyongyang, and as Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have stepped up their military cooperation and joint maneuvers in the region.