North Korea fires projectile toward East Sea amid nuclear weapons estimate

Key facts

• South Korea estimates North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons.
• This estimate is higher than U.S. President Donald Trump's figure of 57 nuclear weapons.
• North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea.
• The launch occurred approximately one week after a previous missile firing by Pyongyang.
• The recent launch took place during combined military exercises between South Korea and the U.S.

South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back estimates that North Korea possesses between 80 and 120 nuclear weapons, a figure that exceeds U.S. President Donald Trump's stated number of 57. The South Korean military announced that North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea. This latest launch occurred approximately a week after Pyongyang fired a short-range ballistic missile on August 12. The timing of the projectile launch coincides with ongoing combined military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which have been scaled down.