North Korea says it wants to possess world's most powerful nuclear force

SEOUL Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country's ultimate goal is to possess the world's most powerful nuclear force, as he promoted dozens of military officers involved in the launch of North Korea's largest ballistic missile, state media reported on Sunday.

The announcement came after Kim inspected a test of the country's new Hwasong 17 intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM and pledged to counter U.S. nuclear threats with nuclear weapons on Friday.

The ultimate goal of the nuclear force is to possess the world's most powerful strategic force, the absolute force unprecedented in the century, as stated by Kim in order to promote the officers.

He called the Hwasong 17 the world's strongest strategic weapon and said it showed North Korea's resolve and ability to build the world's strongest army.

Kim said that the North Korean scientists have made a wonderful leap forward in the development of the technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles.