South Korea estimates North Korea has up to 120 nuclear warheads, far above Trump’s figure
South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back estimates that North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, contradicting a recent claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that the figure is 57. The South Korean government maintains its policy of denuclearization and relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for security.
Why it matters
Discrepancies in nuclear stockpile estimates between key allies highlight the intelligence challenges and diplomatic sensitivities surrounding North Korea's nuclear program.
South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads, its Defence Minister said on Thursday (August 20, 2026), citing a range significantly higher than U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that Pyongyang has 57 nuclear weapons.
Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers that North Korea was generally believed to have around 80 to 120 warheads, although he cautioned it was difficult to determine an exact figure.
“We usually see it as around 80 to 120, but it is considerably limited to state an exact number,” Mr. Ahn told a parliamentary committee.
Later, Mr. Ahn clarified that the figure was derived from estimates by private research organisations, adding that South Korea’s military could not officially confirm the numbers.
Asked about Mr. Trump’s comment a day earlier that Mr. Kim possessed 57 “very powerful nuclear weapons”, Mr. Ahn said, “the numbers appear somewhat different.”
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