North Korea has designated a "missile industry day" to mark the anniversary of what it called a successful test launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile last year.

The North's ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Sunday that the designation of November 18 was made at a session of the Permanent Commission of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.

The newspaper described November 18 as a historic day when the might of a world-class nuclear power and the strongest ICBM possessor was demonstrated to the whole world.

Pyongyang claimed that it successfully test-fired the Hwasong-17 on November 18 last year.

Experts say the missile has a range that could cover the entire US mainland.

The test-firing also attracted attention because leader Kim Jong Un's daughter made her first public appearance with her father.

Experts say the North Korean leadership may be hoping to further consolidate its power by touting its ICBM capabilities to counter the US and through the symbolic meaning of the appearance of Kim's daughter.