South Korea begins deploying heavy-duty 'monster' missile to frontline units

South Korea has started deploying its powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, designed to destroy underground bunkers and deter North Korean attacks. The missile, capable of carrying an 8-ton warhead, is central to Seoul's strategy of achieving a "balance of terror" on the peninsula.

The Republic of Korea (ROK) military has initiated the frontline deployment of its most powerful conventional missile, the Hyunmoo-5, officials confirmed on Sunday. Referred to as the "monster" missile for its formidable specifications, the Hyunmoo-5 is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a reported 8-ton warhead capacity, making it a cornerstone of Seoul's strategy to counter North Korean nuclear and underground military facilities.

A strategy of "balance of terror" against Pyongyang

The deployment aligns with a defense doctrine articulated by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in October 2025. Citing the inability to develop nuclear weapons due to South Korea's status as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Ahn argued for acquiring a "considerable number of Hyunmoo-5 monster missiles to achieve a balance of terror." The concept is to possess a conventional retaliatory capability so overwhelming that it deters aggression from Pyongyang, effectively using mass and destructive power to offset North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

Deployment timeline and strategic objectives

The rollout of the advanced missile system began in late 2024 and is expected to continue throughout the administration of President Lee Jae Myung, which concludes in June 2030. The military plans to deploy "up to hundreds" of such advanced missiles, including the Hyunmoo-5 and other upgraded variants currently in development. While first publicly displayed during an Armed Forces Day ceremony in 2023, most of the missile's operational details remain classified due to its strategic importance in the tense military standoff on the Korean Peninsula.

Regional implications and the global arms race

South Korea's move represents a significant escalation in conventional military capabilities in Northeast Asia, directly responding to North Korea's accelerated nuclear and missile programs. This development contributes to a regional arms race, where advancements by one side prompt countermeasures from the other. For nations like Türkiye, which also faces complex regional security challenges and invests in indigenous defense systems for deterrence, the situation underscores a global trend: countries are increasingly developing high-end conventional weapons to ensure their security and sovereignty in the absence of, or as a supplement to, nuclear options, reshaping defense postures worldwide.