#North Korea reportedly has up to 60 nuclear bombs in massive weapons stockpile

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees a rocket system test last year.
KCNA via Reuters

North Korea is believed to have between 20 and 60 nuclear bombs — as well as a 2,500- to 5,000-ton stockpile of 20 types of chemical weapons, the world’s third-largest, according to reports.

The US Department of the Army headquarters made the assessment in its recent report, titled “North Korean tactics,” saying Pyongyang is unlikely to give up the weapons in its bid to prevent a regime change, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported.

“Estimates for North Korean nuclear weapons range from 20-60 bombs, with the capability to produce 6 new devices each year,” the US Army said, noting that some reports state that the rogue regime could obtain as many as 100 by the end of 2020.

“North Korea sought nuclear weapons because its leaders thought the threat of a nuclear attack would prevent other countries from contemplating a regime change,” the US military said.

The report also pointed out that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un witnessed the case of Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi and “does not want something similar to happen in North Korea.”

“External powers intervened in Libya when the domestic revolts began in 2011,” the report said.

It is “highly likely” that the Hermit Kingdom’s military would “use chemical artillery shells,” it said.

“North Korea possibly has weaponized anthrax or smallpox that could be mounted on missiles for use” against South Korea, the US and Japan, the report said.

It added that a kilo of anthrax could kill up to 50,000 people in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, home to some 10 million people, the Korea Herald reported.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang oversees electronic warfare operations under the Cyber Warfare Guidance Unit, more commonly known as Bureau 121, with over 6,000 computer hackers working internationally to gather intelligence, disable enemy networks and commit financial crimes.

“North Korea can successfully conduct invasive computer warfare activities from the safety of its own territory,” the report said. “It has the distributed ability to reach targeted computers anywhere in the world, as long as they are connected to the Internet.”

Negotiations between North Korea and the US on Pyongyang’s nuclear programs have been stalled since February 2019 when the second summit between President Trump and Kim broke down in Hanoi.