We prove that the quantum cluster algebra structure of a unipotent quantum coordinate ring $A_q(mathfrak{n}(w))$, associated with a symmetric Kac-Moody algebra and its Weyl group element $w$, admits a monoidal categorification via the representations of symmetric Khovanov-Lauda- Rouquier algebras. In order to achieve this goal, we give a formulation of monoidal categorifications of quantum cluster algebras and provide a criterion for a monoidal category of finite-dimensional graded $R$-modules to become a monoidal categorification, where $R$ is a symmetric Khovanov-Lauda-Rouquier algebra. Roughly speaking, this criterion asserts that a quantum monoidal seed can be mutated successively in all the directions, once the first-step mutations are possible. Then, we show the existence of a quantum monoidal seed of $A_q(mathfrak{n}(w))$ which admits the first-step mutations in all the directions. As a consequence, we prove the conjecture that any cluster monomial is a member of the upper global basis up to a power of $q^{1/2}$. In the course of our investigation, we also give a proof of a conjecture of Leclerc on the product of upper global basis elements.
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