The Ministry of Nationwide Protection unveils the brand new Hyunmoo-5 missile displayed throughout Armed Forces Day media day occasions on Sept. 29, 2025. Yonhap
South Korea has begun deploying its strongest standard ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5 — dubbed the “monster missile” for its large warhead — to frontline models, navy officers mentioned Sunday, a transfer that underscores Seoul’s effort to strengthen deterrence towards North Korea.
The bottom-to-ground missile, able to carrying a warhead of as much as eight tons, started getting into frontline models late final 12 months and is anticipated to finish full operational deployment earlier than the present administration leaves workplace in 2030, based on navy officers. It’s thought of South Korea’s strongest weapon up to now.
The Hyunmoo-5 is designed to focus on deeply buried underground amenities, together with command bunkers believed for use by North Korea’s management and strategic forces. It was publicly unveiled throughout South Korea’s Armed Forces Day occasions in 2024 and 2025, drawing consideration for its measurement and harmful potential amid heightened regional safety tensions.
Regardless of the missile’s energy, analysts warning towards overstating its skill to neutralize North Korea’s most hardened underground websites.
Lee Il-woo, director of the Korea Protection Community, mentioned the Hyunmoo-5 represents probably the most strategically vital missile ever deployed in South Korea’s Hyunmoo collection, however faces bodily limitations.
“The Hyunmoo-5 carries an especially high-yield standard warhead, and by decreasing payload it may theoretically lengthen its vary to round 3,000 kilometers, with some even evaluating it to an intercontinental-class missile,” Lee mentioned. “By way of sheer energy and strategic signaling, it’s the strongest missile South Korea has fielded.”
From North Korea’s perspective, Lee mentioned the missile poses a severe menace, significantly as a result of Pyongyang’s missile interception capabilities stay restricted. “The chance of North Korea efficiently intercepting the Hyunmoo-5 seems very low,” he mentioned, citing the blended real-world efficiency of Russian-made S-300 and S-400 air protection techniques, that are just like these operated by North Korea.
Nonetheless, Lee mentioned the missile’s effectiveness towards North Korea’s deeply buried amenities must be seen extra cautiously. Lots of Pyongyang’s key underground installations are positioned greater than 100 meters beneath floor, usually beneath granite bedrock frequent on the Korean Peninsula.
“Even probably the most superior standard bunker-buster weapons battle in granite terrain,” Lee mentioned. He pointed to U.S. use of the GBU-57 large ordnance penetrator, which is estimated to penetrate round 60 meters in softer rock reminiscent of sandstone, but has nonetheless did not fully neutralize underground amenities in Iran. “North Korea’s amenities are deeper — usually 100 to 150 meters — and constructed below a lot more durable geological circumstances.”
“Consequently, it’s unrealistic to say that standard weapons alone, together with the Hyunmoo-5, can absolutely destroy these amenities. With out nuclear weapons, full penetration isn’t possible,” Lee added.
South Korea’s navy has promoted the Hyunmoo-5 as a central component of the Korea Large Punishment and Retaliation, or KMPR, doctrine — considered one of three pillars of the nation’s deterrence technique towards North Korea, alongside the Kill Chain preemptive strike idea and the Korea Air and Missile Protection system.
Protection officers have mentioned the missile is meant not just for bodily destruction but additionally for deterrence, by demonstrating South Korea’s skill to inflict extreme harm on strategic targets if attacked.
South Korea can be growing next-generation high-powered missile techniques, informally often known as the Hyunmoo-6 and Hyunmoo-7, that are believed to have longer ranges or improved penetration capabilities.
