Seoul – In a briefing to a parliamentary committee on Thursday, South Korea’s defence minister Ahn Gyu‑back said the country estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads. The range, derived from private research groups, is considerably higher than the 57 warheads President Donald Trump cited in remarks at the White House the day before.
Minister’s remarks to lawmakers
Minister Ahn told the committee that while the exact number is difficult to verify, “we usually see it as around 80 to 120, but it is considerably limited to state an exact number.” He added that South Korea’s own military cannot officially confirm the figures, which are based on assessments by external analysts.
Trump’s comment and South Korean response
President Trump, speaking about a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, described the North’s arsenal as “57 very powerful nuclear weapons.” When asked about the discrepancy, Ahn said, “the numbers appear somewhat different,” without directly challenging the president’s statement.
Ahn also reiterated South Korea’s long‑standing policy of not recognizing North Korea as a nuclear‑armed state and emphasized that Seoul continues to rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. “We cannot develop nuclear weapons. Nor should we accept the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons,” he said.
Context of renewed diplomatic overtures
The remarks come as President Trump seeks to revive engagement with Kim Jong Un after scaling back joint U.S.–South Korean military drills, which he labeled “hostile” to the North. North Korean officials responded cautiously. Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister, called the reduced exercises “provocative and aggressive,” dismissing any suggestion that they represented a goodwill gesture.
Despite the diplomatic overture, Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of any recent contacts between Trump and Kim, though she described the personal relationship between the two leaders as “excellent.”
South Korea’s non‑nuclear stance
South Korea has traditionally avoided publishing detailed estimates of Pyongyang’s nuclear stockpile and does not officially acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, consistent with its policy of denuclearisation on the peninsula. The government’s reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella remains a cornerstone of its defence strategy.
Analysts note that the wide range of estimates underscores the difficulty of obtaining reliable intelligence on North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. The disparity between the South Korean estimate and President Trump’s figure highlights the challenges faced by allies in forming a unified assessment of the threat.
Implications for regional security
Both Seoul and Washington continue to monitor North Korea’s nuclear programme closely. While diplomatic engagement may reduce immediate tensions, the underlying uncertainty about the size of the North’s arsenal persists, influencing defence planning and regional security calculations.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
