South Korea’s Hyunmoo-V Ballistic Missile and Joint Strike Ship

Hyunmoo-V (Presidential Press Photographers Photo)
South Korea recently revealed its Hyunmoo-V ballistic missile. It is now a strategic asset in South Korea’s "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation" (KMPR) strategy and it could be fitted aboard the ROK Navy's future Joint Strike Ship.
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On October 1st, during the 76th Armed Forces Day parade, South Korea revealed its Hyunmoo-V ballistic missile and its transporter erector launcher (TEL). The Hyunmoo-V, the latest and most powerful missile in the Hyunmoo series, is now a strategic asset in South Korea’s Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy, which is part of the country’s ‘Three-Axis’ system.

South Korea’s ‘Three-Axis’ system consists of the Kill Chain, the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy. The Kill Chain is a preemptive strike system designed to detect clear signs of a potential nuclear attack from North Korea and destroy key targets related to its nuclear and missile infrastructure, such as command and control systems, launch sites, and support systems, including mobile launchers.

The Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) is a missile defense system deployed by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) that detects and intercepts enemy ballistic missiles using various missile defense systems, including the U.S. Forces Korea’s THAAD, the Republic of Korea’s L-SAM for high-altitude coverage, and the Patriot (PAC-3) and M-SAM for mid-altitude defense. Low-altitude missile threats will be addressed by the ROK Army’s Low Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD) system, which is currently under development.

The Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy is South Korea’s second-strike response against a North Korean nuclear attack. KMPR is designed to counter the threat of a preemptive nuclear strike, complementing a no-first-use policy, and acting as a deterrent by ensuring mutually assured destruction in response to a North Korean nuclear strike.

The Hyunmoo-V missile has a warhead weighing 8 to 9 tons, making it the heaviest among conventional ballistic missiles. It has a minimum range of 300 km and, according to MP Yoo Yong-weon’s office, an estimated maximum range of up to 5,000 km with a reduced warhead. The missile’s warhead is capable of destroying structures located more than 100 meters underground. In its descending phase, the missile can reach speeds close to Mach 10. Composed of heavy metals, the Hyunmoo-V is designed to target North Korea’s underground facilities used for producing military equipment, storing WMDs, and serving as command centers.

Progress on the Joint Strike Ship (JSS)

Joint Strike Ship

The Republic of Korea is planning to operate Hyunmoo-V missiles at sea through the Joint Strike Ship (JSS) project. However, no additional information about the program’s progress has been released since the concept model was unveiled at MADEX 2023. Naval News reached out to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and learned that the JSS program is still in the concept research phase, with no formal requirements yet decided by the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a result, it will take some time before the plan for JSS will be seen on the Mid-term Defense Plan again.

Like the CVX aircraft carrier project, the JSS program is under debate—not just in terms of cost, but also regarding its feasibility, strategic value, and the challenge of securing enough manpower to operate these vessels. As South Korea increases its investment and interest in the peace and stability of the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region, these concerns are growing. Various options will likely be considered before final decisions are made.

Republic of Korea (ROK) Strategic Command

Establishment of ROK Strategic Command (ROK MND Photo)

Additionally, during the 76th Armed Forces Day, the Republic of Korea (ROK) officially established the Strategic Command under the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Strategic Command is tasked with leading the effective command and control of South Korea’s ‘Three-Axis’ system, while systematically advancing the nation’s military capabilities. It is responsible for overseeing South Korea’s nuclear and WMD response systems, which include the Kill Chain, Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) system. The command is expected to lead operations involving strategic assets. Some of the missions disclosed in the legislative notice for the establishment of the ROK Strategic Command include:

  • Deterrence and response to nuclear and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) attacks, including the planning, preparation, execution, and control of operations aimed at countering these threats.
  • Military cooperation with the U.S. on the implementation of extended deterrence measures.
  • Integrated operations of space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum capabilities for deterring and responding to nuclear and WMD threats.
  • Joint combat development of strategic capabilities.
  • Addressing any other matters related to deterrence and response to nuclear and WMD threats.

Currently, the ROK Navy’s Submarine Force Command is the only naval command known to be overseen by the new ROK Strategic Command, due to its operation of Hyunmoo-IV-4 SLBMs and Haesung-III cruise missiles. However, if the Joint Strike Ship project is completed, additional naval commands are expected to come under the oversight of the ROK Strategic Command.

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