“Our great leader (Kim Jong-un) paid a visit to Baekdusan after accomplishing ‘great success’ in November,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Saturday, referring to what they saw as the successful launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to the statement and photos released by the KCNA, Kim, standing behind the crater lake at the mountain, recalled the “emotion-charged” days when he realized the country’s success of completing its claimed “nuclear force.” The KCNA did not reveal the specific date of the trip.

Experts said the visit could have given him the opportunity to clear his mind before laying out his national vision for 2018, as North Korea is seeking to become a full-fledged nuclear state and achieve the goal of mastering nuclear-strike capability.

And such messages would be incorporated into Kim’s address on New Year’s Day, experts added. In his 2017 New Year’s address, Kim said the North was “in the final phase” of conducting its first intercontinental ballistic missile test.

“Ascending to the top of Baekdusan, Kim Jong-un is thought to have reported to his predecessors about North Korea’s nuclear progress and made the commitment to his endeavor,” commented Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

“Next year, North Korea is likely to focus on improving their economy through self-reliance measures, enhancing its leverage against the US for nuclear talks and showing proactive moves toward inter-Korean relations.”

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)