On Saturday, state-run news agency KCNA quoted the leader, who said that North Korea is nearing its goal of "equilibrium of real force" with the U.S. and claimed that North Korea's nuclear program is nearly complete.

KCNA added that Friday's latest missile test was aimed at "calming down the belligerence of the U.S." and "confirming action procedures of actual war," the state-run agency said in a statement. Kim personally guided the launch of the latest Hwasong-12 missile, it added.

KCNA also said that Kim expressed great satisfaction over the launch, which he said verified the "combat efficiency and reliability" of the missile and the success of efforts to increase its power. While the English version of the report was less straightforward, AP noted that the Korean version quoted Kim as declaring the missile as operationally ready. He vowed to complete his nuclear weapons program in the face of strengthening international sanctions, the agency said.