STOCKHOLM, Sweden: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), North Korea has significantly bolstered its nuclear arsenal, potentially amassing up to 50 nuclear weapons—a sharp rise from the previous estimate of 30.
This revelation underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to its military nuclear program, a cornerstone of its national security strategy.
The SIPRI Yearbook 2024 Armaments, Disarmament and International Security report highlights North Korea’s production of both plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU) for nuclear weapons, indicating a dual-track approach in its nuclear ambitions.
Despite international sanctions and diplomatic efforts, North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006 and asserts the capability to strike any target worldwide with its missiles.
While North Korea’s nuclear arsenal expands, the global count of nuclear warheads has slightly decreased, standing at 12,121 as of January 2024, down from 12,512 the previous year. The SIPRI identifies nine nations as nuclear powers, with the United States and Russia possessing the lion’s share—approximately 90%—of the world’s nuclear weapons.
Amidst efforts to curb the proliferation of weapons, 14 United Nations arms embargoes and 22 European Union arms embargoes were enforced globally in 2023. However, the effectiveness of such measures has faced challenges, with reports of Russia allegedly procuring weapons from North Korea and the ongoing ineffectiveness of the Libyan arms embargo.
Furthermore, the report sheds light on the evolving landscape of warfare, noting a shift towards the increased utilization of cyber capabilities for intelligence gathering by states like Iran and North Korea. These middle-power nations have demonstrated advancements in cyber-espionage techniques, reflecting a broader trend towards digital strategies in contemporary conflicts.
As North Korea’s nuclear arsenal expands and cyber warfare capabilities evolve, the global community faces persistent challenges in maintaining peace and security in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
