(2nd LD) N. Korea typically estimated to have 80-120 nuclear weapons: defense minister

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back revealed that North Korea is believed to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, a figure exceeding the recent claim of 57 by U.S. President Donald Trump. Ahn's remarks came during a parliamentary session following Trump's statement at the White House, in which he cited the specific number of 57 powerful nuclear weapons in North Korea's arsenal.

Ahn noted that the estimates held by South Korea and the United States regarding Pyongyang's nuclear stockpile appear to be slightly different. He clarified that his statement was based on an estimate from a private research institute and not an official military assessment, as such information is highly classified and could be misinterpreted.

South Korea and the United States maintain that North Korea is not recognized as a nuclear-armed nation. The defense ministry also stated that they expect the North's border-hardening activities along the inter-Korean border to be completed by 2028, with the South Korean military stepping up surveillance to ensure border security.