Advertisement
South Korea reveals ‘monster’ bunker-busting missile to outmatch Kim Jong-un’s arsenal
Equipped with unparalleled destructive capabilities and a 600km range, the Hyunmoo-5 is designed to deter North Korea’s nuclear threats
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
01:51
South Korean ‘monster’ bunker-busting missile designed to outmatch Kim Jong-un’s arsenal
South Korean ‘monster’ bunker-busting missile designed to outmatch Kim Jong-un’s arsenal
South Korea has unveiled its formidable “bunker-busting” missile, the Hyunmoo-5, boasting what it claims is the world’s largest conventional warhead – in a show of strength that comes amid the North’s military muscle-flexing.
Advertisement
Tuesday’s debut of the “monster missile”, as it has been dubbed, coincided with the annual Korea Army International Defence Exhibition, which is set to kick off Wednesday. This five-day event near Gongju is expected to feature 365 leading defence companies and attract high-level officials from nations including Poland, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The Hyunmoo-5 is designed to deliver devastating destructive power, believed to surpass the 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs used by the United States and similar to those speculated to have been employed in last month’s Israeli air strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
Its public unveiling at Seoul Air Base as part of a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of South Korea’s military was a display of force intended to highlight the nation’s resolve to deter North Korean aggression.
Around 5,000 troops and 340 pieces of military hardware were showcased at the event, including missiles, tanks, drones, and advanced anti-aircraft systems. South Korea’s domestically developed KF-21 jets performed a flyover, as did an American B-1B Lancer bomber.
President Yoon Suk-yeol took the opportunity to announce the launch of South Korea’s new Strategic Command, which will manage the nation’s strategic military assets.
Advertisement