South Korea estimates North Korea holds 80 to 120 nuclear warheads

South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated on Thursday that Pyongyang may possess up to 120 nuclear warheads, a figure considerably higher than the 57 nuclear weapons previously claimed by former US President Donald Trump. During a parliamentary committee appearance, the minister emphasized that accurately determining the exact number of warheads is extremely challenging.

He clarified that the range of 80 to 120 warheads is based on assessments conducted by private research organizations, but the South Korean military cannot officially substantiate these numbers. When asked about Trump's statement on Wednesday that Kim Jong Un holds 57 powerful nuclear weapons, the South Korean minister remarked, "It appears the numbers differ somewhat."

Trump had made these remarks at the White House on Wednesday while discussing Kim Jong Un and his anticipated meeting with the North Korean leader later this year.