North Korea's nuclear arsenal is approaching a critical threshold. It is becoming powerful enough to overcome U.S. ground-based missile defense systems, which have cost billions of dollars to develop over the past 30 years. This was reported by UNN with reference to Bloomberg.
Details
In late January 2026, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that North Korea could produce enough weapons-grade material to manufacture up to 20 nuclear warheads per year. If this pace continues, North Korea's arsenal will reach the level of France's by 2035, the publication says.
At the same time, according to analysts' estimates, North Korea currently possesses about 50 nuclear warheads.
While Donald Trump wages war in the Middle East to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, data shows that U.S. attempts to contain Kim Jong Un's program have failed. North Korea's transformation from a "rogue state" into a full member of the club of nuclear powers means it can not only threaten nuclear war but also wage it
The American Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system consists of 44 interceptor missiles stationed in Alaska and California. It may also include an additional 20 missiles in Alaska.
Launching at least two interceptors to engage an incoming target means there will not be enough missiles to repel an attack from two dozen intercontinental ballistic missiles,
Recall
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine discovered dual-use civilian components from leading brands in North Korean missiles used by Russia. Pyongyang purchases these components by bypassing sanctions.