South Korea to Test Hyunmoo 5 monster missile

• Deployment: South Korea is scheduled to launch Hyunmoo 5 ballistic missile by end 2025, which will increase the conventional deterrence towards North Korea.

Missile Specifications:

• The size and firepower of the missile made it nicknamed the monster missile.
• Weight: 36 tonnes: Warhead: 8 tonnes and it can penetrate fortified bunkers.
• The length: 16 metres, the range: 600-5,000 km (depending on payload).

Development and Background:

• It started to be developed in 2010; publicly unveiled in October 2024.
• In 2017, the US removed sanctions on missiles imposed following the tests of hydrogen bombs conducted by North Korea.

Strategic Importance:

• Helps South Korea to advance its military independence under US nuclear umbrella.
• Defence budget 2025: 47.1 billion dollars, in order to become one of the top defence powers in the globe.

Exam-Oriented Facts:

• Hyunmoo 5: 36 tonne 8 tonne bunker busting warhead, range 600-5000km.
• Revealed publicly October 2024; designed since 2010.
• The defence budget 2025: $47.1billion (1.4x GDP of North Korea).

Regional Context:

• The short-range missile tests were recently conducted by North Korea.
• The manner in which Hyunmoo 5 is deployed is intended to ensure a balance of strategy on the Korean peninsula but at the expense of increasing the regional tensions.