South Korea military study declares North “enemy,” estimates plutonium stockpile at 70 kg

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Thursday, February 16 was the first time in six years that South Korea has referred to North Korea as its “enemy” and reported an increase in Pyongyang’s stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium.

The yearly white paper provides a peek of the secretive North’s expanding nuclear and conventional military arsenals.

The North Korean dictatorship and military were referred to as “our adversary” for the first time since its 2016 edition, noting Pyongyang’s continuous weapons development, cyber and military provocations, and its recent characterization of the South as a “enemy.”

“As long as North Korea continues to pose military threats without giving up its nuclear weapons, its dictatorship and military, the principal agents of execution, are our adversaries,” the paper stated.

North Korea has begun reprocessing spent fuel from its reactor and now owns around 70kg (154lb) of weapons-grade plutonium, an increase over the previous estimate of 50kg.

Keep Reading

Six nuclear tests have yielded “considerable” volumes of highly enriched uranium and a “substantial degree of capability” to miniaturize atomic weapons, a definition that has not altered since 2018.

“Our military is increasing monitoring as the likelihood of an additional nuclear test rises,” a newspaper said, noting the repair of previously wrecked tunnels at North Korea’s testing site during the last year.

The North allegedly breached an inter-Korean military treaty prohibiting hostilities 15 times in 2018 alone, including a drone incursion in December, artillery fire inside a military buffer zone, and missiles launched across the de facto sea boundary into the South in November.

In its 2020 edition, the report stated that North Korea was “mostly” complying with the deal, which was signed during the 2018 summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The most recent report recognized Pyongyang’s launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles in 2022, as well as the testing of the new Hwasong-17, but stated that further study is required to determine whether it has obtained superior missile re-entry capability.

For the first time since 2016, the daily referred to Japan as a “close neighbor with shared values” amidst efforts to heal relations damaged by history and trade disputes.

Read More: With the tourist boom, the Philippines aims to become Asia’s “cruise hub”

Burapha

Sawadee-khrup. I am a multicultural Thai newswriter that is always on the lookout for daily news that are intriguing and unique in my native country Thailand.

Recent Posts

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Field is Ready for the Upcoming Scheduled Warm-ups at Diverse Four Venues!

ICC has dropped the crucial update regarding the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 which will commence 30 September 2025. To…

July 15, 2025

J-Pop Icon Aiko Returns With a ‘National Tour’ After 24 Months! What are her Stoppings & Shows?

One of the established and a leading Japanese singer and songwriter, Aiko is known for her blending of modern music…

July 15, 2025

EAFF E-1 2025: China vs Hong Kong! Who will end at the 3rd position?

Today, on 15 July 2025 it is going to be a clash of two equally potent football teams China and…

July 15, 2025

Japan Open 2025: Full Schedule, Indian Players, and Viewing Info

The badminton competition in Japan Open 2025 which is the second event on the BWF World Tour calendar has now…

July 15, 2025

Cal Raleigh Crowned Home Run Derby Champion After Dramatic Night in Atlanta

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was the 2025 winner of the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night at Atlanta…

July 15, 2025

Korean Actress Kang Seo Ha Dies at Age 31 After Battling Illness

Kang Seo Ha, a South Korean actress passed away yesterday aged 31 and the South Korean entertainment industry is mourning.…

July 15, 2025