South Korea announces plans to integrate the Hyunmoo-V, the world’s most powerful non-nuclear missile (Photo: X)
South Korea plans to deploy the world’s most powerful non-nuclear missile, the Hyunmoo-V, into combat service by the end of this year.
According to reports from Defence Blog, Ahn Gyu-back, the South Korean Minister of Defense, revealed that the Hyunmoo-V is already being integrated into the armed forces.
The Hyunmoo-V missile, sometimes referred to in local media as the “monster missile,” carries a warhead weighing up to eight tons. South Korea plans to acquire about 200 of these missiles.
Ahn stated that the simultaneous launch of 15 to 20 of these missiles could cause destruction comparable to, or even greater than, that of tactical nuclear weapons.
He added that the government plans to further extend the range and payload capacity of missile systems as part of its strategic deterrence strategy.
Orders confirmed. The Minister of National Defense said that the “next-generation” Hyunmoo missiles are being prepared, and mass production and operation for the Hyunmoo-V are expected to begin soon. Compared to others, South Korea rarely mentions the status of strategic weapons,… pic.twitter.com/FLDW8rEmsY
— Mason ヨンハク (@mason_8718) October 18, 2025
The Hyunmoo-V was first revealed during last year’s Armed Forces Day and was designed to target underground command bunkers used by North Korean leadership.
The system is part of South Korea’s Korean Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) program, a cornerstone of the country’s triple deterrence strategy, along with the Kill Chain and the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).
The missile is considered a counterbalance to North Korea’s growing missile arsenal and recent demonstrations of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology.
Photos: X @mason_8718. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
