South Korea has started operational deployment of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, reinforcing its posture against North Korea’s growing emphasis on hardened and underground military installations. Known colloquially as the “monster missile,” the Hyunmoo-5 reportedly carries one of the heaviest conventional warheads in the world, weighing up to nine tons and designed to hold deeply buried targets at risk. The missile’s development spanned several years, beginning in the mid-2010s and reaching completion in 2023. Its first public appearance came during a major military parade in Seoul in October 2024, signaling its readiness for service. Deployment began toward the end of 2025 and is expected to continue in phases until the end of the decade. The system is a cornerstone of South Korea’s three-axis defense strategy, which seeks to deter aggression through early detection, precision strike, and retaliation. However, experts caution against overstating its effectiveness. According to defense analyst Lee Il-woo, North Korea’s underground facilities are often located 100 to 150 meters below hard granite formations, making complete penetration extremely difficult for conventional weapons. Even advanced US bunker-buster munitions have struggled under similar conditions. Given South Korea’s non-nuclear status under international treaties, the Hyunmoo-5 underscores the country’s effort to enhance conventional deterrence while acknowledging the inherent limitations of non-nuclear strike systems.
