Business Honor: North Korea Nuclear Warhead Estimate Rises

South Korea Estimates North Korea Has Up to 120 Nuclear Warheads

Defence Technology

South Korea estimates North Korea possesses up to 120 nuclear warheads, exceeding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent estimate of 57.

South Korea estimates North Korea has 80–120 nuclear warheads
Trump recently put North Korea’s arsenal at 57 weapons
Seoul says the exact size of Pyongyang’s stockpile cannot be confirmed
South Korea remains committed to denuclearisation and the U.S. nuclear umbrella
Trump hopes to revive direct engagement with Kim Jong Un

South Korea estimates North Korea may possess between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, which is much larger compared to the claim made by U.S. President Donald Trump that the latter has 57 nuclear weapons.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said that his country typically puts North Korea nuclear warheads in the range of 80 to 120, but pointed out that determining the actual number was not easy. The minister later added that the numbers were provided by private institutions, which cannot be verified by the military of South Korea.

This statement came after Trump claimed that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had 57 “very powerful nuclear weapons” when he was talking about a future meeting with Kim. Ahn noted that there was a difference in figures, but did not comment on whether Trump’s statement was an official recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power.

However, South Korea still sticks to its traditional policy in favor of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and does not regard North Korea as a nuclear power officially.

Moreover, according to Ahn, South Korea will keep depending on American nuclear protection. He opposed both the creation of a nuclear arsenal in South Korea and the deployment of American tactical nuclear weapons there.

The problem arises when Trump is trying to resume dialogue with Kim Jong-un after decreasing joint exercises of American and South Korean troops, which he considers to be provocative for North Korea.

However, North Korea has not been keen on making the move. Kim Yo Jong called the reduced exercises provocative and dismissed suggestions that they represented a meaningful goodwill gesture. She also said that she did not know about any recent talks between Trump and Kim, although their relationship is "excellent."

Trump said that he would meet Kim at some point this year, thus resuming diplomacy that had been frozen since failed meetings in 2018 and 2019. Business Honor notes that differing nuclear estimates highlight the uncertainty surrounding North Korea’s arsenal as Washington and Seoul consider renewed diplomatic engagement.