Seoul: South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek informed lawmakers today that the South Korean government estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads. This assessment surpasses the 57 nuclear weapons previously mentioned by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Thai News Agency, Defense Minister Ahn clarified that specifying an exact number of warheads is challenging due to the data being gathered from private research organizations, which the South Korean military cannot officially verify. During a clarification hearing before the House of Representatives committee, Mr. Ahn reiterated South Korea's policy of not recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, aligning with its commitment to nuclear disarmament.
Mr. Ahn refrained from commenting on whether President Trump's statement on North Korea's nuclear weapons implied acceptance of its nuclear status, stating it was inappropriate to critique the U.S. leader's remarks. He further confirmed that South Korea will continue to depend on the United States for its national defense and will neither develop its own nuclear arsenal nor allow U.S. tactical nuclear weapons on its soil.
The Defense Minister's comments come amidst President Trump's efforts to rekindle diplomatic relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. As part of this initiative, Trump ordered a reduction in the scale of joint US-South Korean military exercises, aiming to extend a gesture of goodwill towards North Korea. However, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, dismissed the gesture, labeling the exercises as still provocative and aggressive.
President Trump is anticipated to meet with Kim Jong Un later this year to attempt to revive diplomatic talks that have remained stagnant since their last summit.