South Korea to Test-fire New Ballistic Missiles: Source

The “Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile,” on which the ROK (Republic of Korea) military has been focusing since last year, is speculated to be test-fired in the near future. The Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile is called a “monster missile” due to its large warhead weight and is classified as a tactical nuclear weapon class.

Earlier in the day, a navigational warning for the region’s waters for Friday and Saturday sparked rumors that it could be tested at the state-run Agency for Defense Development’s (ADD) Anheung test facility in Taean, which is located 150 kilometres southwest of Seoul.

However, the defense ministry stated that no maritime live-fire training is scheduled for Friday, seemingly implying that the missile test plan may have been postponed or canceled.

Image source: AP Photo / South Korea Defense Ministry

Last year, the Hyunmoo-4 missile, which has a 500-kilometer flight range, was successfully tested by Seoul from a submarine. Moreover, it is reportedly developed by Seoul, in efforts to bring it out operational–enabling it to enter into service as soon as possible. 

On July 4, a government official said, “This month, the Agency for Defence Development (ADD) will conduct a final test firing of Hyunmoo-4, which has increased the warhead weight and range,” adding, “We will also finish developing the Hyunmoo-5 missile within the first half of the year.”

Hyunmoo-5: A Missile for Deterrence

The military believes that the use of a solid-fuel satellite launch vehicle, which was successfully tested on March 30, will speed up the development of the Hyunmoo-5 missile. Previously, the military released a video of the flight of the Hyunmoo-5-like missile during the Armed Forces Day ceremony last year. It is known that the Hyunmoo-5 is designed to carry an 8~9-ton warhead and climb to the atmosphere at an altitude of 500~1000 km, descending at a speed of Mach 10 after reaching an apogee.

The solid-fuel satellite launch vehicle is reportedly equipped with the same level of thrust as the first liquid engine of the Korean launch vehicle Nuri (KSLV-II). It is rated above the level of intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) with a range of 75~3000 km.

Since the warhead weight of the Hyunmoo-5 is too large, the firing method is also different from the previous one. Until now, Hyunmoo missiles were “hot start” in which the engine was ignited before being launched. However, if the Hyunmoo-5 is launched in this way, the engine will be so powerful that the launcher can melt. For this reason, the Hyunmoo-5 uses “cold start” technology, in which the engine is ignited and launched after bouncing about 30 metres into the air from a mobile launcher (TEL).

A government official explained, “Unlike liquid fuel, which requires 1~2 hours of fuel injection time, solid fuel has a fast launch time and excellent concealment, making it perfect for military use.”

The Pyongyang regime is believed to have built about 6,000 fortifications and underground military bases across North Korea, mainly under granite hills, since the end of the Korean War in 1950–1953. Regional defense analysts also expect the introduction of the Hyunmoo-5 missile to further upset regional countries such as China and Japan, which are likely to trigger an arms race, especially in the development of ballistic missiles.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have peaked in recent days following the Pyongyang regime’s actions to launch ballistic missiles, prompting the United States, South Korea, and Japan to launch drills involving several of its warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.

Meanwhile, the United States and the Republic of Korea strongly condemned North Korea’s continued missile launches, recent drone infiltration, and other acts of force–violating UN Security Council resolutions. Hence, this test fire can also be assumed as a form of reaffirmation that they will resolutely respond to any future provocations by North Korea together with the international community.

Since the beginning of last year, North Korea has launched about 70 ballistic missiles, most of them capable of carrying nuclear warheads.