The Ministry of Unification of South Korea: North Korea has a stockpile of enriched uranium of 2,000 kilograms, which can produce a large number of nuclear weapons

South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Thursday (September 25) that South Korea believes North Korea has up to two tons of highly enriched uranium.

Highly enriched uranium is a key raw material for the production of nuclear warheads. Chung Dong-young made a rare public confirmation on Thursday that intelligence agencies estimate that Pyongyang's stockpile of highly enriched uranium with a purity of over 90% amounts to as much as 2,000 kilograms.

He said, "Even at this moment, the uranium centrifuges at four facilities in North Korea are in operation."

He disclosed that only 5 to 6 kilograms of plutonium are needed to manufacture a nuclear bomb, and 2,000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, if exclusively used for plutonium production, would be sufficient to produce a large number of nuclear weapons.

He emphasized that it is urgent to halt North Korea's nuclear development, but he believes that sanctions will not be effective. Only when the leaders of North Korea and the United States hold talks can the difficulties be overcome.

North Korean leader Kim Jong UN stated this week that he is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States as long as his nuclear Arsenal can be preserved.