N. Korea capable of making 10 nuclear warheads: study

SEOUL, June 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is presumed to be capable of making 10 nuclear warheads, a study showed Monday, casting concerns for further provocation by Pyongyang amid icy inter-Korea relationship.

According to the data compiled by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), North Korea is estimated to hold enough nuclear materials to make 10 warheads as of January. The think tank, however, said it is not able to identify if the North is actually capable of deploying nuclear weapons.

The number of nuclear warheads around the world is estimated at 15,395 units, down 455 units from 2015, SIPRI added. The figure also includes those falling into disuse.

By country, Russia topped the list with 7,290 units, followed by the United States at 7,000. The two countries account for 93 percent of the total.

Other countries with nuclear warheads included Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel.

"Despite the ongoing reduction in the number of weapons, the prospects for genuine progress towards nuclear disarmament remain gloomy," said Shannon Kile, Head of the SIPRI Nuclear Weapons Project. "All the nuclear weapon-possessing states continue to prioritize nuclear deterrence as the cornerstone of their national security strategies."

colin@yna.co.kr
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