N. Korea typically estimated to have 80-120 nuclear weapons: defense minister
North Korea is estimated to have around 80 to 120 nuclear weapons, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Thursday, declining to offer a specific figure. Ahn made the remarks during a parliamentary session, after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Pyongyang possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. It marked the first time Trump has cited a specific figure regarding the North's nuclear arsenal.…
According to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, North Korea is believed to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons. The minister made the statement during a parliamentary session, following U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Pyongyang holds 57 very powerful nuclear weapons. This marked the first time Trump had provided a specific figure regarding the North's nuclear arsenal.
Ahn clarified that North Korea's nuclear stockpile typically ranges from 80 to 120 weapons, but he was hesitant to provide an exact number. The estimates held by South Korea and the United States regarding North Korea's nuclear stockpile appear to be slightly different after Trump's remarks, the minister noted. It was considered unusual for a South Korean or U.S. government official to disclose a specific number for Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, due to the highly classified nature of the information and the potential risk of misinterpretation.
South Korea and the United States have consistently maintained that North Korea is not recognized as a nuclear-armed state.
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