Seoul Says N. Korea Holds 2,000kg of Highly Enriched Uranium

(MENAFN) South Korea on Thursday sounded the alarm over North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, revealing that Pyongyang may have stockpiled as much as 2,000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, a quantity sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons.

Unveiling the estimate during a press briefing, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young referenced expert analyses made available to the public.

“According to estimates by experts, including the Federation of American Scientists, North Korea’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (at 90% or above) is currently assessed to be around 2,000 kilograms,” said Chung, according to the ministry.

The disclosure reinforces Seoul's longstanding demand for complete denuclearization of its northern neighbor, as tensions persist on the Korean Peninsula. Chung added that renewed diplomatic engagement with Washington could be instrumental.

He described the potential revival of negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea as a "breakthrough" in resolving the ongoing nuclear impasse, according to media.

The announcement follows Pyongyang’s recent proclamation that its nuclear-armed status is now legally protected and cannot be reversed. According to North Korean state media, the regime condemned Washington for its continued insistence on denuclearization.

Earlier this month, the United States raised concerns about North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) session, underscoring the international community's unease.

In response, North Korea signaled conditional openness to dialogue, stating that talks with the U.S. could resume—but only if Washington formally acknowledges it as a permanent nuclear state.

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