Hyunmoo-4/5
Type: Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
Domain: land
Country of Origin: South Korea
Manufacturer: ADD / LIG Nex1
Overview
South Korea's most powerful indigenous ballistic missile series, developed for deep strike against hardened and underground targets — a critical requirement given North Korea's extensive tunnel and bunker network. The Hyunmoo-4 features a maximum range of approximately 800 km with a warhead reported at 2,000 kg, designed specifically for earth-penetrating bunker destruction. The Hyunmoo-5 is reported to carry an even heavier warhead — possibly 8,000-9,000 kg — at shorter range (300 km), earning it the nickname "monster missile" and making it the heaviest conventional warhead on any ballistic missile globally. Both use solid-fuel propulsion with inertial/GPS guidance. Development accelerated after the lifting of US-imposed range restrictions on Korean missiles in 2021. The Hyunmoo series is central to South Korea's "Kill Chain" pre-emptive strike doctrine and Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy against North Korea.
Technical Specifications
| note | Hyunmoo-5 is Cheongryong II intercontinental-range |
|---|---|
| guidance | INS + GNSS + terminal radar |
| accuracy_m | 10 |
| warhead_types | Conventional bunker-busting, cluster |
| hyunmoo4_range_km | 800 |
| hyunmoo5_range_km | 3000 |
| hyunmoo4_warhead_kg | 2000 |
| hyunmoo5_warhead_kg | 1000 |
Operators
- South Korea
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