South Korea deploys ‘monster’ Hyunmoo-5 missile amid North Korea nuclear threat

South Korea has reportedly deployed a new ballistic missile, dubbed the “monster” for its size, as part of its evolving military strategy in response to North Korea’s nuclear weapons development.

According to a Newsweek report, as a key US treaty ally hosting 28,500 American troops on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea has developed a three-axis military strategy designed both to defend against North Korea’s nuclear and missile attacks and to carry out preemptive or retaliatory strikes against the North’s facilities and leadership.

Despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, North Korea continues to advance its nuclear programme, testing new weapons and refining its capabilities.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen the country’s “nuclear shield and sword” to counter the US-South Korea alliance, which is safeguarded by American nuclear deterrence.

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According to Yonhap News Agency, citing military sources on Sunday, deployment of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile began late last year and is expected to be completed during President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, which ends in 2030.

Missile show of force

The 65-foot missile carries an 8-ton conventional warhead designed to destroy underground bunkers that could house North Korea’s missiles and leadership. Seoul says the weapon is capable of “ultra-precision, ultra-high-power” strikes.

Including the Hyunmoo-5 and its upgraded variants, South Korea plans to deploy “up to hundreds of advanced missiles,” the report said, as the country is prohibited from owning nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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In an October 2024 interview, South Korea’s defence chief Ahn Gyu-back said possessing “a considerable” number of “monster” missiles could create a balance of terror against North Korea’s threat.

Military analyst Joseph Dempsey of the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted in October 2024, “The Hyunmoo-5’s 8-(ton) warhead probably does not consist solely of high explosives and may include a dense metal penetrator precursor or tandem charges to enhance penetration and target damage.” He added that conventional missiles of this size are unprecedented.

In October 2025, Defense Minister Ahn said: “Mass production (of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile) has begun, and measures are being sought to significantly increase output.”

Dempsey also noted, “While there is no evidence that Seoul seeks to develop or deploy longer-range ballistic missiles, the continued and less constrained evolution of its ballistic-missile programme highlights a growing inherent capacity to address potential wider regional threats.”

As North Korea refuses to give up its nuclear arsenal, it remains unclear whether South Korea will develop even more capable missiles. Analysts warn the arms race on the Korean Peninsula may prompt nearby countries, including Japan and China, to bolster their military power.

With inputs from agencies