South Korea Estimates North Koreas Nuclear Arsenal at 80-120 Weapons

Seoul, August 20: South Korea’s Defense Minister, An Kyung-back, made a significant statement regarding North Korea’s nuclear capabilities on Thursday. He estimated that North Korea may possess between 80 to 120 nuclear weapons, a figure that surpasses the 57 weapons cited by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to the Yonhap News Agency, the minister made these comments during a parliamentary session. He was responding to questions about Trump’s assertion made at the White House, where he claimed that North Korea has “57 very powerful nuclear weapons.”

This marked the first time Trump provided a specific number regarding North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. An stated, “We generally believe that North Korea has around 80 to 120 nuclear weapons,” but clarified that sharing a precise number was not feasible for him.

He also acknowledged that Trump’s remarks suggest a potential discrepancy between South Korea’s and the U.S.’s estimates of North Korea’s nuclear stockpile. The actual number of North Korea’s nuclear weapons has long been a highly sensitive and confidential issue. Both South Korea and the U.S. have not officially recognized Pyongyang as a nuclear-armed state.

When asked in parliament whether South Korea acknowledges North Korea as a nuclear-armed nation, An replied, “Seoul can never officially accept that.”

An declined to comment on Trump’s statement, stating that it would not be appropriate for a South Korean defense minister to evaluate the remarks of a U.S. president.

The defense minister reiterated that South Korea has no plans to develop its own nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the country will continue to strengthen its defense capabilities under the nuclear deterrence arrangement with the United States.

North Korea’s nuclear program has long been a major concern for both the U.S. and South Korea regarding security on the Korean Peninsula. The differing estimates of the nuclear arsenal come at a time when discussions about potential negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang are ongoing.