South Korea begins Mass Production of Hyunmoo-5 ICBM

Our Bureau - : Oct 22, 2025 - : 1:41 am

South Korea has begun mass production of what it calls the world’s most powerful non-nuclear ballistic missile the Hyunmoo-5, with plans to deploy it by the end of this year, Defence Minister An Gyu-bak announced at the ongoing Seoul ADEX.

The Hyunmoo-5, weighing 36 tonnes and carrying an 8-tonne conventional warhead, has been described as a “bunker buster” capable of penetrating underground facilities up to 100 metres deep. With an estimated range of 3,000 to 3,500 km, the missile marks a new stage in South Korea’s strategic deterrence capability against North Korea, while staying within the country’s non-nuclear defence commitments.

An Gyu-bak said the missile has entered serial production and will be operational by year-end. The mass production of the Hyunmoo-5 represents a major milestone in the country’s indigenous missile development programme, he added.

The Hyunmoo-5 is part of South Korea’s long-running effort to strengthen its ballistic missile capability following the lifting of US-imposed missile range limits in 2021. The system was first revealed during 2024 Armed Forces Day parade, when transporter-erector launchers (TELs) carrying large missile canisters were publicly displayed for the first time. The missile, believed to use solid-fuel propulsion, is significantly larger than any of South Korea’s previous Hyunmoo variants.

While Seoul has not disclosed full specifications, limited available data suggest the Hyunmoo-5 can deliver one of the heaviest non-nuclear payloads in the world. Analysts believe its 8-tonne warhead gives it the ability to destroy deeply buried command posts, missile silos, or hardened tunnels in North Korea, enhancing South Korea’s capacity for pre-emptive or retaliatory strikes in the event of a conflict.

Speaking at the same ceremony, President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s defence and aerospace industries, pledging “bold investments” during his five-year term. “We will inject an unprecedented budget into research and development for the defence and aerospace sectors by 2030,” Lee said. “Our goal is to make South Korea one of the world’s top four defence industry powers.”

Lee said South Korea’s missile, space, and aerospace programmes would be key pillars of national strength and technological advancement. “The Hyunmoo-5 demonstrates how far our domestic capabilities have come,” he noted, calling the missile a “symbol of self-reliant deterrence built on innovation and national resolve.”

The President also highlighted the role of ADEX as a platform for global defence collaboration and industrial growth. He added that his government would support both state and private-sector initiatives to expand exports and develop indigenous capabilities.

The Hyunmoo-5’s unveiling underscores Seoul’s evolving defence doctrine, one that relies on precision, speed, and conventional destructive power rather than nuclear parity. Under international agreements, South Korea remains committed to not possessing nuclear weapons, focusing instead on the lethality and accuracy of its non-nuclear arsenal.

The Defence Minister confirmed that “next-generation Hyunmoo missiles” are also in development, suggesting a sustained roadmap for further enhancement. “We are preparing future versions that will ensure continued technological superiority and reliable deterrence,” he said.

For South Korea, the Hyunmoo-5 represents more than a missile, it is a strategic signal of confidence, industrial capability, and self-reliance. As the country positions itself among global defence leaders, the new system may also shape its export ambitions in precision-strike technologies, further raising its profile as an advanced defence manufacturer.

Non-nuclear-ballistic-missile / South-korea / Seoul-adex-2025 / Hyunmoo-5 /