Seoul estimates North Korea has enough uranium for 100 nuclear weapons

South Korea's Unification Minister stated North Korea possesses 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium, potentially enough to build 100 nuclear weapons.

25 sept 2025 - 17:34 • 2 min read

South Korea's government estimates that North Korea possesses approximately 2,000 kilograms (about 4,400 pounds) of highly enriched uranium (HEU), a quantity sufficient to produce up to 100 nuclear weapons. The assessment was announced by Seoul's Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young.

This estimate suggests a significant increase in North Korea's stockpile of fissile material, with experts believing the country has enough material for around 90 weapons and has likely assembled at least 50. The HEU is understood to be enriched to 90 percent purity or higher, which is considered weapons-grade.

According to intelligence cited by officials, North Korea operates uranium enrichment centrifuges at four separate locations. The known site of Yongbyon is among these, though Pyongyang had purportedly decommissioned it following previous negotiations, only to reactivate it in 2021. Foreign experts believe additional enrichment facilities have been established as leader Kim Jong Un continues to advance the country's nuclear program.

South Korea's Ministry of Defense has long acknowledged that North Korea possesses a substantial amount of HEU, the critical component for manufacturing nuclear warheads. One nuclear weapon is estimated to require approximately 20 kilograms of enriched uranium, meaning the reported 2,000 kilograms could theoretically equip up to 100 devices.

Stopping North Korea's nuclear development is considered an urgent matter by South Korean officials. However, there is a belief that sanctions alone will not be effective, with a summit between Pyongyang and Washington seen as the most viable solution. International diplomacy aimed at denuclearizing North Korea has been stalled since 2019, when talks between Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump concluded without an agreement. Kim Jong Un has recently indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, provided that demands for his country to surrender its nuclear arsenal are not a prerequisite.

North Korea, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and its most recent in 2017, is subject to numerous United Nations sanctions due to its prohibited weapons programs. The country has historically not disclosed details about its uranium enrichment facilities.

Potential high-level talks between North Korea and the United States are anticipated to resume, possibly during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled to take place in South Korea later in October. These discussions could play a crucial role in addressing the ongoing nuclear issue.