North korea could produce up to 20 nuclear weapons per year, according to seoul

Wednesday 21 January 2026 - 09:00

By: Sahili Aya

North korea could produce up to 20 nuclear weapons per year, according to seoul

South Korea has warned that North Korea may be producing enough nuclear material each year to manufacture up to 20 nuclear weapons, raising serious concerns about regional stability and global security.

Speaking during a press briefing in Seoul, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated that Pyongyang continues to expand its nuclear capabilities while simultaneously advancing long-range ballistic missile technology. These developments, he said, could eventually enable North Korea to threaten not only neighboring countries but also distant targets, including the United States.

Experts believe that once North Korea reaches what it considers a sufficient nuclear deterrent to ensure regime survival, it could accumulate excess nuclear capacity. According to South Korean officials, this scenario could increase the risk of nuclear technology or materials spreading beyond North Korea’s borders, potentially creating a broader international threat.

North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test in 2006 and has since carried out multiple tests despite international sanctions. The regime maintains that its nuclear arsenal is essential for self-defense against what it views as hostile policies from Washington and its allies, and it has repeatedly declared its nuclear status irreversible.

President Lee has called for a pragmatic diplomatic approach, suggesting that freezing the production of nuclear materials and limiting the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles could reduce tensions and benefit all parties involved.

He also indicated that the United States could play a key role in reviving dialogue, noting that former interactions between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un demonstrated that unconventional diplomacy might open channels of communication on the Korean peninsula.