KABUL: South Korea’s Defense Ministry says North Korea is estimated to possess between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, based on assessments by private research institutions.
South Korean Defense Minister An Gyu-baek told a parliamentary session that the assessments indicate North Korea has expanded its nuclear stockpile and increased the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal.
The latest estimate is higher than a previous figure cited by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said North Korea had around 75 nuclear warheads.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly warned that Pyongyang would use nuclear weapons in response to any attack and has threatened to destroy its adversary completely.
The latest assessment comes as Trump is reportedly seeking to meet Kim Jong Un before the end of this year.