North Korea may have up to 120 nuclear warheads, Seoul says

Seoul: North Korea may possess between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, according to South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back, highlighting growing uncertainty over the size of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

Ahn told lawmakers on Thursday that the estimate was based on assessments by private research organisations. He stressed that the exact number was difficult to determine and that the figure had not been independently confirmed by South Korea’s military.

Seoul estimate exceeds Trump’s figure

The estimate is significantly higher than the figure of 57 nuclear weapons recently cited by US President Donald Trump. The differing assessments underline the difficulty of accurately determining the size of North Korea’s nuclear stockpile.

North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities despite international pressure and sanctions. Its nuclear programme remains one of the major security concerns in East Asia.

Nuclear arsenal remains difficult to assess

The precise number of warheads held by Pyongyang is not publicly known. Analysts rely on information from satellite imagery, intelligence assessments, nuclear material estimates and other available evidence to calculate the likely size of the arsenal.

South Korea’s latest assessment therefore represents an estimate rather than a confirmed inventory.

The comments come at a sensitive time as Trump seeks to revive diplomatic engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Previous talks between Washington and Pyongyang focused heavily on North Korea’s nuclear programme, although efforts to reach a lasting agreement have stalled.

Diplomatic efforts face a major challenge

A larger-than-expected nuclear arsenal could make future negotiations more complicated, particularly if Washington and its allies seek limits on North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

For South Korea, the assessment also highlights the continuing security challenge posed by its nuclear-armed neighbour. As diplomatic efforts are reconsidered, determining the actual size and capabilities of North Korea’s arsenal is likely to remain a crucial issue.

Meta title: North Korea may have up to 120 nuclear warheads, Seoul says

Meta description: South Korea estimates North Korea may possess up to 120 nuclear warheads, far above Donald Trump’s recent estimate of 57.