North Korea Nears ICBM, Producing 15–20 Warheads

South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung warned in New York that North Korea is in the final stages of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the United States, with atmospheric re‑entry technology the main remaining hurdle and recent engine tests reportedly overseen by Kim Jong Un. Lee said Pyongyang appears to have enough nuclear weapons for regime survival and is producing roughly 15–20 warheads a year, raising concerns it could both expand its arsenal and export weapons; he urged a phased freeze–reduce–dismantle approach and named former U.S. President Donald Trump as a potentially unique interlocutor. Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young told reporters that North Korea operates four uranium‑enrichment sites and holds about 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium — which experts say, at roughly 90% purity, could be enough for about 47 bombs if converted to warheads — a sharp increase over prior estimates. Seoul and outside analysts say active centrifuges, recent engine testing and growing fissile‑material stockpiles greatly heighten proliferation and regional security risks and that sanctions alone are unlikely to halt the program. The combination of advancing missile re‑entry work, new engine tests and expanding enrichment has intensified calls for urgent, coordinated diplomacy to prevent further development or the export of nuclear capabilities.