(URGENT) Defense minister says N. Korea typically estimated to have 80-120 nuclear weapons

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, according to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, who refrained from providing a precise number during a parliamentary session on Thursday. Ahn's comments came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Pyongyang holds 57 very powerful nuclear weapons, a figure which marked the first time Trump had offered a specific count of North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

Ahn told lawmakers that the estimated range of 80 to 120 weapons is typical, but he could not offer a definitive figure due to the highly classified nature of the information. He noted that South Korea and the United States have slightly differing assessments of North Korea's nuclear stockpile. It was rare for a South Korean or U.S. government official to disclose a specific number regarding Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal, not only due to the classified status of the information but also to avoid inadvertently acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

South Korea and the United States have consistently maintained that North Korea is not recognized as a nuclear-armed nation. When asked by an opposition lawmaker if Seoul recognized the North's possession of a nuclear arsenal, Ahn declined to comment, stating that it would be inappropriate for a South Korean minister to evaluate statements made by the U.S. president.

Ahn reiterated that South Korea has no intention of developing its own nuclear weapons and emphasized the need to maintain its defense through the nuclear deterrence framework with the United States.