PHOTOS: North Korea's Kim oversees launch of Hwasong-18 ICBM

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw this week's test launch of the country's most powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which has the potential to reach the United States, state media said Tuesday.

The launch was the third time the North had tested a solid-fuel ICBM, after launches in April and July, which analysts said signaled consistent efforts to improve the technology." A drill of launching ICBM Hwasongpho-18 was staged as an important military action to clearly show the DPRK's nuclear strategic forces' overwhelming counteraction will and matchless strength to the enemies," KCNA news agency said.

The missile, the largest in North Korea's arsenal, flew just over 1,000 kilometers, it said, and demonstrated "the combat capability of ICBM unit". Kim said the launch sent a "clear signal to the hostile forces" and "set forth some important new tasks for the development of the DPRK's nuclear strategic forces," KCNA added.