Seoul: N. Korea May Possess 2,000 Kg Highly Enriched Uranium

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) TOKYO, Sept 25 (KUNA) - North Korea is presumed to possess up to 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium as the country has sought to dramatically expand its nuclear weapons capabilities in recent years, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
In a press conference Seoul, Chung said "estimates (by experts) suggest North Korea possesses up to 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium at 90 percent and higher," adding that uranium between 10 to 12 kg is enough to produce one bomb.
"Even at this very hour, uranium centrifuges at four locations (in North Korea) are running, probably accumulating nuclear materials," he said.
Chung assessed that it is now impossible to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program through international sanctions, saying that the resumption of North Korea-US talks could instead serve as a "breakthrough" in stalled denuclearization efforts.
Once realized, their resumption could also help reopen stalled inter-Korean ties, and the government will do its "utmost" to foster an environment for talks between Pyongyang and Washington, he said.
His remarks came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in a recent speech to a key parliamentary meeting, reiterated the regime's interest in resuming talks with Washington, on condition that the long-standing call for denuclearization be dropped.
Kim, however, ruled out talks with Seoul and rejected the possibility of unifying the two Koreas. (end)
mk

MENAFN25092025000071011013ID1110109381