South Korea's new Hyunmoo-V monster missile promises nuclear-like destruction with nine-ton warhead.

On October 1, 2024, South Korea unveiled its latest strategic missile, the Hyunmoo-V, during the Armed Forces Day parade commemorating the 76th anniversary of the military's founding. The event featured approximately 5,000 troops and nearly 100 pieces of heavy military equipment, marching through downtown Seoul. Streets were closed to accommodate tens of thousands of spectators, and a U.S. B-1B Lancer bomber made a rare flight over the capital, highlighting the close military ties between South Korea and the United States.
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The Hyunmoo-V missile's transporter erector launcher can move all 18 wheels at roughly a 45-degree angle, allowing it to drive diagonally for enhanced mobility. (Picture source: Korean Forces Network)

Described by Seoul as a retaliatory weapon aimed at countering threats from North Korea, the Hyunmoo-V (nicknamed the "monster missile" due to its capabilities) is capable of carrying one of the world's largest conventional warheads, weighing up to nine tons. This substantial warhead is designed to penetrate deeply buried tunnels and bunkers, potentially causing effects comparable to nuclear weapons without crossing the nuclear threshold.

With a total weight of 36 tons and a thrust of 75 tons, the Hyunmoo-V follows a "lofted trajectory," flying through the exosphere to enhance its penetration capability before descending upon its target at speeds ten times faster than the speed of sound. Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, noted that the missile's transporter erector launcher can move all 18 wheels at roughly a 45-degree angle, allowing it to drive diagonally for enhanced mobility. The missile employs a unique cold-launch system, using compressed gas to propel it before ignition. This technique minimizes damage to the launcher and increases operational stability due to the missile's powerful solid propellant.

Referred to as "High Power Missiles" (HPM) by Seoul, both the Hyunmoo-IV-1 and Hyunmoo-V are designed to penetrate deeply buried command centers by detonating above underground facilities, effectively burying them. The exact maximum range of the Hyunmoo-V remains undisclosed, but experts speculate it could potentially reach distances of up to 3,000 kilometers or more, placing it in the category of intermediate-range missiles. Comparisons have been drawn to the U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in terms of warhead weight and thrust, although the Hyunmoo-V is believed to be a two-stage missile.

Carrying one of the world's largest conventional warheads, weighing up to nine tons, the Hyunmoo-V is designed to penetrate deeply buried tunnels and bunkers, potentially causing effects comparable to nuclear weapons without crossing the nuclear threshold. (Picture source: South Korean MoD)

Hanwha Aerospace is the manufacturer of the Hyunmoo missiles, which are all equipped with evasion systems to counteract enemy air defense systems. The South Korean Strategic Command plans to have more than 200 Hyunmoo-V missiles alone. In addition to the V-series, new variants of the Hyunmoo-II, III, and IV missiles are being developed and mass-produced. South Korea refers to these missiles as "Extreme Precision, High Power Missiles" or "Ultra-powerful ballistic missiles," rather than using conventional designations like Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile or intercontinental ballistic missile. There are also plans to mount the Hyunmoo-V missiles on the Joint Support Ship, which is described as the world's first arsenal ship.

In early 2024, South Korea announced that it had successfully tested the Hyunmoo-V missile. Information about missile tests is often disclosed through Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), which are notifications issued to ensure airspace safety during missile-related activities. Analyses of NOTAMs suggest that the Hyunmoo-V tests likely took place on December 26 or 27, 2023, near Jeongjuk-Ri village on the west coast. The tests targeted a group of islands approximately 185 kilometers south of the launch point, a distance comparable to that between Seoul and Pyongyang.

The public unveiling of these missiles aligns with South Korea's strategic investment in the "3K Defense System," a multi-layered defense strategy designed to preempt and respond to North Korean missile threats. This system comprises three components: the "Kill Chain," the Korean Air and Missile Defense system (KAMD), and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation Plan (KMPR).

The public unveiling of both the Hyunmoo and L-SAM missile launchers aligns with South Korea's strategic investment in the "3K Defense System," a multi-layered defense strategy designed to preempt and respond to North Korean missile threats. (Picture source: Korean Forces Network)

The "Kill Chain" component focuses on swift detection and engagement of North Korean missile threats, aiming to target nuclear and missile facilities before they can launch. It is said to have the capability to target mobile missile launchers within 30 minutes. The KAMD system is responsible for intercepting incoming missiles, providing a multi-layered defense for critical facilities and population centers. It employs the domestically produced Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) as an upper-tier interceptor capable of intercepting projectiles at altitudes up to 60 kilometers.

The Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation Plan serves as a deterrent strategy, assuming that a North Korean attack has already been initiated. In such an event, South Korea would retaliate with a combination of precision missiles, advanced aircraft, and potentially special operations forces. The objectives would include countervalue and counterforce targets, as well as leadership decapitation strikes.

These defense systems integrate capabilities across different branches of the South Korean military. The Army's Strategic Missile Command operates the Hyunmoo family of missiles in both the "Kill Chain" and retaliation roles. The Air Force employs PAC-3 systems, F-35A jets, and Global Hawk surveillance aircraft. The Navy utilizes 3,000-ton submarines equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles and KDX-III Aegis destroyers with SM-2 missiles. Future plans include integrating military surveillance satellites, cyber warfare units, space-focused forces, and special forces units into the defense network.