Hyunmoo-5 Missile
South Korea is ready to deploy its 'monster missile' Hyunmoo 5 at the end of the year marking a significant conventional arsenal upgrade against its northern counterpart in the Korean peninsula.About Hyunmoo-5 Missile
The Hyunmoo-5 is a powerful South Korean ballistic missile developed to deter North Korean aggression with a massive conventional warhead designed to destroy fortified underground bunkers. Dubbed the "monster missile," it is considered a crucial element of South Korea's "Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation" (KMPR) strategy. South Korea plans to deploy the Hyunmoo-5 by the end of 2025.
Key specifications
- Mass: Approximately 36 tonnes.
- Warhead: It can carry a conventional warhead of up to 8 tonnes.
- Range: The range is variable, from 600 km to over 5,000 km, depending on the payload.
- Speed: During its descent, the missile can reach speeds approaching Mach 10.
- Launch platform: It can be launched from a mobile Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL).
- Destructive power: The heavy, reinforced warhead is designed to penetrate and destroy bunkers located more than 100 meters underground.
- Inception: The concept for the missile was born after a series of North Korean attacks in 2010.
- Historical restrictions: Development was initially blocked by U.S. restrictions on South Korean missile payloads, aimed at de-escalating tensions. These limits were lifted by the Trump administration in 2017 following North Korean nuclear tests.
- Public unveiling: The missile was officially revealed in October 2024 during South Korea's Armed Forces Day, where a mobile launch platform was displayed.
- Countering North Korea: The Hyunmoo-5 is a non-nuclear weapon designed to provide Seoul with a powerful conventional deterrent against North Korea's nuclear threats and to target its underground facilities.
- Strategic significance: Its deployment marks a major upgrade in South Korea's conventional arsenal and demonstrates a shift toward greater military autonomy.
