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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

North Korea estimated to have 60 nuclear warheads, enough material for 30 more

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • North Korea possesses an estimated 60 nuclear warheads, with enough fissile material to produce at least 30 more, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
  • SIPRI's 2026 Yearbook notes North Korea's continued development of nuclear capabilities, including new missile systems designed to evade defenses, and estimates its warhead count has increased by 10 since last year.
  • Globally, total nuclear warhead stockpiles decreased slightly, but the number of warheads kept in military reserves increased, with Russia and the United States holding the vast majority.

North Korea is estimated to possess around 60 nuclear warheads, a figure that has increased by 10 from the previous year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The institute's 2026 Yearbook also suggests that Pyongyang has enough fissile material to produce at least 30 additional warheads. SIPRI attributes this growth to North Korea's stated goal of "exponentially" increasing its nuclear capabilities. The report highlights the country's ongoing development of its nuclear arsenal, including the testing of new missile systems like the "next-generation" solid-fuel Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to bypass missile defense systems.

North Korea has about 60 nuclear warheads, an increase of 10 from last year.

— Stockholm International Peace Research InstituteSIPRI's 2026 Yearbook estimates North Korea's current nuclear warhead count.

SIPRI classifies all of North Korea's current warheads as being in "storage" rather than "deployed." The institute categorizes nuclear warheads into "deployed" and "stored" states, collectively termed "military reserves." It also accounts for "retired" warheads that have not yet been dismantled but are excluded from military reserves. North Korea currently has no retired warheads, according to the report.

The institute includes North Korea among the "nine nuclear-armed states," alongside the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, and Israel. This classification has been in place since 2020. SIPRI noted that these states continued their nuclear modernization and expansion programs in 2025, deploying new nuclear weapons or systems capable of carrying them.

North Korea has fissile material for at least 30 more nuclear warheads.

— Stockholm International Peace Research InstituteSIPRI's 2026 Yearbook estimates North Korea's potential for further nuclear weapon production.

Worldwide, the total estimated number of nuclear warheads stood at 12,187 as of January this year. Of these, 9,745 were kept in military reserves for potential use. While the total stockpile decreased by 54 warheads compared to last year, military reserves increased by 131. Approximately 4,012 warheads are deployed on missiles and aircraft, with 2,100 to 2,200 of these on ballistic missiles maintained at a high state of operational readiness, primarily by Russia and the United States.

The country is continuing its nuclear capability development to achieve its goal of exponentially increasing its nuclear weapons.

— Stockholm International Peace Research InstituteSIPRI's assessment of North Korea's nuclear strategy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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