North Korea Has Around 100 Nuclear Warheads, South Korean Intelligence Says

South Korea estimates that North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, significantly exceeding the figure of 57 nuclear weapons cited by Donald Trump.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek made the statement during a session of the National Assembly in Seoul.

The defense minister noted that it is currently difficult to determine the exact number of nuclear weapons held by North Korea.

Later, he clarified that the figure is based on estimates from private research organizations, adding that the South Korean military cannot officially confirm the data.

Trump referred to North Korea having 57 nuclear warheads on August 19, while discussing the North Korean leader and his plans to meet with him later this year.

Being asked about Trump’s remarks on August 19, the South Korean defense minister said the figures were somewhat different.

South Korea has traditionally avoided publicly disclosing detailed estimates of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and does not officially recognize Pyongyang as a nuclear-armed state, in keeping with its longstanding policy of pursuing denuclearization.

“We cannot develop nuclear weapons. Nor should we agree to the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons,” Ahn Gyu-baek said.

The comments come as Trump seeks to revive dialogue with Kim Jong Un after ordering a reduction in the scale of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which he described as hostile toward North Korea.

On August 15, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on North Korea to engage in talks aimed at ensuring peaceful coexistence and replacing the armistice agreement with a full-fledged “peace regime.”

On August 17, a provocation occurred along the border between North and South Korea: a group of North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line, prompting South Korean troops to fire warning shots.