According to information disclosed to local media by military sources, South Korea has initiated the first operational deployment of its new Hyunmoo-5 “bunker-buster” ballistic missiles within its Armed Forces, seeking to counter the threat posed by the nuclear capabilities of neighboring North Korea. According to authorities, this weapon represents a key element in response strategies in the event of a large-scale attack, or in the words of South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, a way to “balance the terror” generated by Pyongyang.
Expanding on the official’s statements: “Given that South Korea cannot possess nuclear weapons as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, I firmly believe that we should possess a considerable number of monstrous missiles (Ed. note: as the weapon has come to be dubbed), the Hyunmoo-5, in order to achieve a balance against terror.” These remarks were already made in October 2025, when the minister confirmed that serial production of the Hyunmoo-5 was underway, along with additional measures to expand the production capabilities of the local industry to accelerate the process.
It is worth recalling at this point, when reviewing some of the known characteristics of the Hyunmoo-5, that the missiles deployed by South Korea constitute a highly effective weapon against bunkers thanks to their powerful warhead, with a yield comparable to that of the air-dropped GBU-57/B bomb. However, this is a missile with smaller dimensions which, as such, delivers considerably greater kinetic force than its U.S. counterpart, translating into a higher capacity to penetrate enemy structures.
Presented to the public during an Armed Forces Day commemorative ceremony in 2023, the system still keeps precise details of its performance classified, as well as the number of units already available to South Korean troops, with only indications that its deployment should be completed before 2030. Based on analysts’ speculation drawing on available images and documents, the Hyunmoo-5 would have an estimated weight of around 35 tons, of which approximately 7.7 tons would correspond to the powerful warhead mentioned above, far exceeding the 2.2 tons of the Hyunmoo-4 and other similar missiles. This high figure, according to descriptions, would break down into roughly 80% heavy metal and only 20% explosives.
Considering these variables, it is clear that the missile sacrifices range capabilities, although its exact reach is not entirely clear. Among various local reports, estimates range widely from 600 to 3,000 kilometers if the weight of the warhead were to be reduced, something that could be explored in new variants developed by Seoul. However, given that its strategic deployment is focused on North Korea, this is not an issue that causes major concern for South Korean strategists.
For now, it is useful to note that South Korea maintains a three-pillar strategy to deter and, if necessary, respond to North Korean attacks. In brief terms, the first pillar consists of capabilities to carry out preventive strikes against North Korean missile facilities, the second focuses on intercepting missiles once they have been launched, and the third entails a massive counterattack against strategic positions along with the enemy’s political and military leadership. The new missile could be integrated without major issues into the first, and especially the third, of these pillars.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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