South Korean President Lee: ”North Korea has secured sufficient nuclear weapons necessary to maintain its regime”

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung attended the Korea Investment Summit held at the New York Stock Exchange on the 25th (local time) and said, "Due to the instability caused by the military conflict between North and South Korea,
"There is a problem of South Korea being underestimated," he said, adding, "The new administration will certainly resolve these geopolitical risks."
President Lee, who is visiting the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly, told President Trump on the same day that
"North Korea appears to have already secured sufficient nuclear weapons necessary to maintain its regime, and is currently developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of carrying nuclear warheads and reaching the United States," he said.
"The only thing left to develop is atmospheric re-entry technology. If we leave things as they are, we will see an increase of 15 to 20 nuclear bombs every year."
President Lee added, "What is of concern is that North Korea may export this to other countries.
"It is a high price to pay," he said. "I believe that there would be considerable security benefits even if North Korea were to simply halt its nuclear warhead production and ICBM development and exports."
President Lee continued, "South Korea's military power, excluding the US Forces Korea, is not an independent military force.
"Our defense spending alone is fifth in the world. Compared to North Korea's annual GDP, South Korea's defense spending is nearly 1.5 times that of the North's," he said.
He also said, "There was a request from President Trump, but regardless of that, we will significantly increase defense spending.
"I believe that a country should be solely responsible for its own national defense," he said. Finally, he added, "In this way, South Korea has overwhelming national defense, economic and comprehensive defense capabilities, and the government is also safe.
"Because we are taking a proactive stance on the issue of security, it is difficult to conclude that military issues are the greatest threat to the Korean Peninsula at present," he said.