South Korea to Deploy Hyunmoo-5 Amid Rising Tensions with North Korea

South Korea announced plans to deploy its most powerful ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5, by the end of 2025, in response to growing security threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.

Key Highlights:

• Defence Minister’s Statement:
  Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the country must produce a “considerable” number of Hyunmoo-5 missiles to “achieve a balance of terror” and maintain credible deterrence.
• About the Hyunmoo-5:
  • Type: Conventional surface-to-surface ballistic missile (non-nuclear).
  • Weight: Approximately 36 tonnes.
  • Warhead: Up to 8 tonnes, including “bunker buster” capability to strike deep underground bunkers.
  • Length: Around 16 metres.
  • Range: Between 600 km and 5,000 km, depending on the payload.
  • Launch Platform: Mobile, enhancing operational flexibility.
• Strategic Significance:
  • The Hyunmoo-5 is seen domestically as a conventional alternative to a nuclear deterrent, given South Korea’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
  • The move marks a major upgrade in Seoul’s missile arsenal, aiming to counter Pyongyang’s expanding nuclear and missile capabilities.
• Regional Context:
  The development comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea conducting frequent missile tests and threatening to use tactical nuclear weapons.