Nuclear security

How Large Is North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal?

For a long time, North Korea watchers were unsure whether Pyongyang had nuclear weapons. That question was answered by the country's first nuclear test in 2006, but doubts remain to this day over how many warheads the Kim regime currently possesses.

Opinions vary widely, with unnamed Chinese experts cited by The Wall Street Journal claiming in April that North Korea may have as many as 20 warheads. In contrast the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University believes Pyongyang has between 10-16 devices.

According to Jeffrey Lewis, founder of Arms Control Wonk.com, a dozen warheads is a likely number. "I just estimate based on the amount of plutonium — call it a dozen weapons with a fair amount of uncertainty,” he said.