How Many Nuclear Weapons Does North Korea Have?
Estimates of the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, after President Trump provided a specific figure while Seoul offered a different assessment.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Thursday that North Korea is estimated to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, while declining to provide a precise figure, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, the defense minister said: “We believe North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, but I cannot provide an exact figure.”
These estimates follow remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that Pyongyang possesses 57 “extremely powerful” nuclear weapons.
It was the first time Trump had cited a specific number regarding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
The South Korean defense minister said that, in light of Trump’s remarks, the assessments made by Seoul and Washington regarding North Korea’s nuclear stockpile “appear to differ somewhat.”
A Rare Disclosure
The disclosure of specific figures regarding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is rare, given the highly secretive nature of such information. Moreover, such statements could be misinterpreted as recognition of North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state.
South Korea and the United States maintain that North Korea is not a recognized nuclear-weapon state.
Asked by an opposition lawmaker whether Seoul recognizes North Korea as a nuclear state, Minister Ahn replied: “We can never officially recognize it as such.”
When asked for his opinion on Trump’s recent remarks, Ahn declined to comment, saying that it would be inappropriate for a South Korean minister to assess statements made by the U.S. president.
He also reaffirmed that South Korea has no intention of developing its own nuclear weapons and remains committed to strengthening its defense capabilities within the framework of nuclear deterrence alongside the United States.
