South Korea Estimates North Korea Has up to 120 Nuclear Warheads, Far Above Trump’s Figure
Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the estimate comes from private research and that Seoul cannot officially confirm North Korea’s arsenal.
- On Thursday, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers that South Korea estimates North Korea possesses 80 to 120 nuclear warheads, a figure significantly higher than President Donald Trump's recent assertion that Pyongyang holds 57 weapons.
- President Trump said on Wednesday he expects to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, seeking to revive diplomacy that stalled after unprecedented summits in 2018 and 2019 collapsed over sanctions relief disagreements.
- Trump seeks to revive engagement after ordering a scale-back of joint US-South Korean military drills, which he described as "hostile." Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's sister, dismissed the reduction as a meaningful gesture, calling exercises "provocative."
- Ahn declined to comment on whether Trump's 57-warhead reference constitutes US recognition of North Korea's nuclear status, stating it would not be appropriate for Seoul's defence minister to comment on the US president's remarks. He said, "We cannot officially acknowledge that."
- South Korea maintains a longstanding non-nuclear policy and relies on the US nuclear umbrella, with the Defence Minister clarifying the military will not develop its own weapons or accept deployment of US tactical nuclear arms on the peninsula.
24 Articles
24 Articles
How big is North Korea's nuclear arsenal? Seoul's defense minister now opposes a rather moderate estimate by US President Trump, who apparently wants to meet dictator Kim this year.
South Korea estimates that North Korea holds up to 120 nuclear warheads, defense minister Ahn Gyu-back said Thursday, a significantly higher figure than that recently advanced by US President Donald Trump, reports Reuters. South Korea's defense minister, Ahn Gyu-back, told parliamentarians that, in general, Korea is considered to be...
From left to right: President of the United States, Donald Trump, President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, and President of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. Mark Schiefelbein/AP/Annabelle Gordon/REUTERS/KCNA South Korea estimates that North Korea has between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, informed its Minister of Defense on Thursday (20), citing a significantly greater scope than the recent statement by US President Donald Trump that Pyongyang has 57 nuc…
With a statement on North Korean nuclear weapons, Donald Trump makes a surprise. He sums it up to 57 pieces. Shortly afterwards, it can be heard from South Korea that there could be more than twice as many.
The Independent
The Independent (US)South Korea says North Korea nuclear warhead numbers are far above Trump’s guess
The figure was derived from estimates by private research organisations
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