Ballistic Missile
Hyunmoo-5
The Hyunmoo-5 is a South Korean super-heavy ballistic missile with a conventional warhead reported at about 8 t, developed by the ADD with Hanwha Aerospace and Poongsan. It is reported to enter deployment from late 2025, and most figures are unofficial.
South Korea|Agency for Defense Development (ADD) & Hanwha Aerospace & PoongsanOverview
The Hyunmoo-5 was developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development with Hanwha Aerospace and Poongsan. It is a solid-fuel missile reported to weigh about 36 t, with a conventional warhead of around 8 t. The range is reported at up to 3,000 km when carrying a smaller payload. It uses inertial and GPS guidance and is launched from a TEL. Most figures come from South Korean media and are not officially published.
The missile is designed to destroy North Korean underground command bunkers as part of the “Three-Axis” defence system. A penetrator warhead dives at high speed into hardened sites, but claims that it can penetrate 100 m of ground are unverified. It follows the Hyunmoo-4, which carries up to 2 t over about 800 km, and became possible after the 2020 revision of US-ROK missile guidelines removed payload limits. It appeared at the October 2024 Armed Forces Day parade, with deployment reported from late 2025.
Key Specifications
Variants
The Hyunmoo-4 is the earlier ballistic missile in the family, reported to carry up to 2 t over roughly 800 km.
The Hyunmoo-4-4 is an upgraded version of the Hyunmoo-4 with changes to its warhead and range, according to media reports.
The Hyunmoo-5 is the super-heavy bunker-busting version, reported with an 8 t warhead and a 3,000 km range.
Operators
South KoreaFrequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the Hyunmoo-5?
The Hyunmoo-5 is reported to have a range of up to 3,000 km when carrying a smaller payload. South Korea has not published official figures, and the number comes from South Korean media reports.
How big is the Hyunmoo-5 warhead?
The Hyunmoo-5 carries a conventional warhead reported at about 8 t, which would make it one of the heaviest in the world. The figure comes from South Korean media, not an official source.
What is the Hyunmoo-5 used for?
The Hyunmoo-5 is designed to destroy North Korean underground command bunkers and other hardened sites. It is part of South Korea’s “Three-Axis” defence system, which includes Kill Chain, KAMD and KMPR.
Is the Hyunmoo-5 in service?
The Hyunmoo-5 is reported to have begun deployment from late 2025, after being shown at the October 2024 Armed Forces Day parade. Many details remain classified, so the numbers are treated as reported figures.
Hyunmoo-5 vs Hyunmoo-4: what is the difference?
The Hyunmoo-5 is reported to carry an 8 t warhead and reach up to 3,000 km with a lighter payload, while the Hyunmoo-4 carries up to 2 t over about 800 km. The Hyunmoo-4 is already in service.
Which countries have the Hyunmoo-5?
Only South Korea operates the Hyunmoo-5, and the missile has not been exported. It follows the Hyunmoo-4 and was made possible by a 2020 revision of the US-ROK missile guidelines.