Seoul: North Korea is estimated to have around 80 to 120 nuclear weapons, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated during a recent parliamentary session. Ahn refrained from providing a specific number, noting the limitations in sharing precise figures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the remarks came following U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Pyongyang possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. This was the first occasion on which Trump had mentioned a specific number related to North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Ahn explained that while estimates from South Korea and the United States differ slightly, they generally align on the approximate size of North Korea's nuclear stockpile.

The disclosure of such estimates is unusual for officials from both South Korea and the U.S., given the classified nature of the information and the potential for misinterpretation. Both nations continue to assert that North Korea is not officially recognized as a nuclear-armed state. Ahn emphasized this stance, stating, "We can never officially acknowledge that," when questioned about Seoul's recognition of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal.

Ahn also chose not to comment on President Trump's statements, indicating that it would be inappropriate for a South Korean minister to evaluate remarks made by the U.S. president. He reiterated South Korea's commitment to strengthening its defense under the nuclear deterrence framework in cooperation with the United States, dismissing any intentions for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons.