South Korea deploys Hyunmoo-V bunker-buster ballistic missile to deter North Korea.

South Korea has begun operational deployment of the Hyunmoo-V surface-to-surface ballistic missile to frontline units as of January 19, 2026.

As reported by Yonhap on January 19, 2026, South Korea has initiated frontline operational deployment of the Hyunmoo-V ballistic missile, marking the transition from development and testing into active service. The system is designed for conventional strikes against deeply buried and hardened underground targets and is integrated into long-term deterrence planning against North Korea.
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The Hyunmoo-V missile has a warhead mass of up to 9 tonnes and a minimum operational range of about 300 km in its bunker-buster configuration; however, if the warhead mass is reduced, the missile could potentially reach targets up to about 5,500 km away. (Picture source: KFN)

The deployment process started in late 2025 and is planned to continue in phases, with completion expected during the administration of President Lee Jae-myung. The Hyunmoo-V is intended to strike deeply buried command facilities and hardened underground targets, reflecting a focus on conventional counterforce missions. The missile’s entry into service aligns with long-term force planning, as Defense Minister Ahn has stated that South Korea plans to secure enough weapons to sustain deterrence in response to North Korea’s nuclear threat. The deployment also confirms that production and unit-level integration are proceeding in parallel.

The Hyunmoo-V was publicly revealed during Armed Forces Day events on October 1, 2024, where it was displayed on its mobile launcher in a fully assembled configuration. The missile is officially associated with a maximum warhead mass of 8 to 9 tonnes and a minimum operational range of roughly 300 km in its bunker-buster configuration. Based on payload and trajectory trade-offs, the range is assessed to extend significantly when warhead mass is reduced, with estimates spanning from several hundred kilometers up to about 5,500 km. This places the system between short-range and intermediate-range ballistic missile categories depending on configuration. Estimated circular error values are cited within about 4 m, indicating a focus on precision. The missile’s role is therefore defined by payload mass and accuracy rather than range alone.

The development of Hyunmoo-V dates back to the early 2010s, following security events that underscored limitations in South Korea’s ability to strike hardened underground targets. Initial work focused on a very high-mass conventional ballistic missile, but progress was constrained by missile guidelines then in force. Warhead-weight limits were lifted in 2017, and remaining bilateral missile restrictions were removed in 2021, enabling accelerated development. After these changes, a system that had undergone long-term subsystem work was rapidly finalized and assembled. By late 2023, development was considered complete and preparations for mass production were underway. This timeline explains the relatively short interval between public unveiling and operational deployment.

Hyunmoo-V is designed specifically to counter extensive underground infrastructure, including facilities built beneath granite terrain and used for command, storage, and strategic functions. These targets are assessed to be resistant to conventional air-delivered munitions, particularly at greater depths. The missile addresses this challenge through reliance on kinetic energy and penetration rather than wide-area blast effects. As South Korea does not possess nuclear weapons, Hyunmoo-V represents a conventional approach to achieving localized but severe effects against buried structures. The operational concept emphasizes structural collapse and internal shock transmission. This requirement directly drives the missile’s unusually heavy payload and high-angle flight profiles.

In its deployed configuration, Hyunmoo-V is carried in a cylindrical canister mounted on a nine-axle transporter erector launcher, supporting road mobility and dispersed basing. The missile employs a cold-launch method, with initial ejection from the canister followed by engine ignition, reducing launcher damage and allowing rapid relocation after launch. Reported physical characteristics include a length of roughly 15 to 20 m, a diameter of about 1.6 m, and a launch mass of approximately 36 tonnes. Propulsion is provided by a two-stage solid-fuel system. During flight, peak speeds are assessed to approach Mach 10, with terminal velocities contributing significantly to penetration effects.

Testing activity has included launches at ranges of roughly 350 km, with reported accuracy maintained even under adverse weather conditions. The warhead is largely composed of dense materials, with a smaller proportion of explosive filler, to maximize momentum transfer and shock propagation through reinforced concrete and rock. Impact geometry and velocity are optimized to increase penetration depth before detonation. These characteristics are intended to damage or collapse underground structures even if complete tunnel destruction is not achieved. The missile’s design, therefore, prioritizes precision counterforce missions. Its effectiveness is tied to accuracy, mass, and impact dynamics rather than blast radius.

Within South Korea’s broader defense posture, Hyunmoo-V is integrated into the three-axis system, specifically the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation component, alongside preemptive strike and missile defense elements. Authorities have indicated plans to expand production quantities and to pursue further improvements in range, accuracy, and penetration efficiency. Follow-on missile systems with extended reach or enhanced penetration are also under development, positioning Hyunmoo-V as both an operational capability and a reference design for future systems. The emphasis on quantity and sustained readiness links the missile to long-term deterrence planning. Collectively, these elements establish Hyunmoo-V as a central component of South Korea’s conventional strike architecture.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.