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South Korea Responds to North Korean Provocations with Hyunmoo-II Ballistic Missile Launch.
In response to North Korea’s recent missile launches, South Korea fired a Hyunmoo-II ballistic missile toward the Yellow Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on November 8, 2024. This live-fire exercise took place the previous day in the coastal region of Taean, 108 kilometers southwest of Seoul, following a series of North Korean short-range ballistic missile launches on Tuesday and a recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test of the Hwasong-18 last week.
Launch of the Hyunmoo-II missile in South Korea on November 7, 2024 (Picture source: JCS)
The exercise simulated a scenario in which North Korea launched a ballistic missile, prompting a South Korean missile unit to respond by firing a Hyunmoo-II short-range ballistic missile at a sea target designed to represent the origin of the North Korean missile launch. The Hyunmoo-2A is a South Korean short-range ballistic missile powered by solid fuel and developed to counter North Korean threats. Integrated into South Korea’s "Kill Chain" preemptive strike and "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation" (KMPR) retaliatory strategies, it is capable of precisely targeting strategic sites within North Korean territory. Measuring over 12 meters and weighing 5,400 kg, the Hyunmoo-2A has a maximum range of 300 km and can carry a payload of nearly one ton.
The two-stage solid propulsion gives the Hyunmoo-2A high stability and swift responsiveness. Developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the missile shares some design features with the Russian Iskander-M, though this is likely due to similar capability requirements rather than a direct technological exchange. With a circular error probable (CEP) of 30 meters, it provides effective precision for targeted strikes, bolstering South Korea’s deterrence against potential threats from North Korea.
Operational since 2008, the Hyunmoo-2A has been deployed in military exercises responding to North Korean missile tests, such as in 2017 when it simulated strikes on strategic sites in North Korea. Although the exact number of Hyunmoo-2A missiles South Korea possesses is classified, the missile and its variants play a crucial role in national defense strategy, enabling precise retaliatory strikes and forming a core component of South Korea's counter-provocation measures in response to escalating military actions from the North.
This exercise aimed to demonstrate South Korea's ability to respond accurately and assert its resolve to counter any provocation from Pyongyang. The JCS noted that this was a clear display of the South Korean military's capacity to conduct precise strikes on strategic targets.
In cooperation with the United States, South Korea continues to closely monitor North Korea’s military activities, maintaining a state of readiness for an “overwhelming” response to any new provocation. Last Tuesday, North Korea launched a salvo of short-range missiles into the East Sea, mere hours before the U.S. presidential election. These launches appeared to involve North Korea's 600 mm multiple rocket launcher system, known as the KN-25 by allied forces, a system that Pyongyang has claimed can be equipped with tactical nuclear warheads since October 2022.
This round of short-range missile launches followed a test of the Hwasong-19, a new-generation solid-fuel ICBM that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un touted as having “unmatched strategic nuclear strike capability.” In response, the United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted a joint air drill, mobilizing a U.S. B-1B bomber and fighter jets from all three nations over waters east of South Korea's Jeju Island. Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, later condemned this drill in North Korean state media, describing it as “indisputable proof of the need and urgency to strengthen nuclear forces.”
South Korea continues to expand its ballistic arsenal, recently unveiling the Hyunmoo-5, a “bunker buster” ballistic missile capable of carrying an eight-ton warhead. This missile forms part of Seoul’s “three-axis strategy,” which includes preemptive strikes under the "Kill Chain" system, air and missile defense systems, and measures to incapacitate North Korea’s leadership in the event of an imminent attack.
At a recent air show in Sacheon, South Korea also presented a supersonic air-to-ground missile, designed for deployment on the FA-50 light attack fighter as well as the next-generation KF-21 aircraft. Intended for both export and strengthen South Korea’s air capabilities, this missile underscores Seoul’s growing military posture in response to the increasing threat from its northern neighbor.