[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Monster Missiles Emerging This Year... Development History

The First Ballistic Missile Secretly Developed by the U.S., ‘Baekgom’

Starting next year, our military's 'monster missiles' will enter full-scale production. It has been over 40 years since South Korea first possessed ballistic missiles. These missiles are considered a representative means of the Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR), one of the components of the Korean-style "3-axis" system. The 3-axis system refers to the South Korean military's strategy for responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, consisting of △Kill Chain (preemptive strike in emergencies) △Korean Missile Defense System (KAMD) △Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The first domestically produced ballistic missile owned by our military was the "Baekgom" (NHK-1). The "Baekgom" is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile reverse-engineered from the U.S.-made surface-to-air missile MIM-14 "Nike Hercules" (NH). Until the early 1970s, the U.S. side was unaware of its development. The "Baekgom" succeeded in its first test launch in September 1978 but never reached operational deployment. After the death of former President Park in October 1979 and the rise of the Chun Doo-hwan administration, the Baekgom project was canceled.

The project was restarted due to the "Aung San Mausoleum bombing" incident. After the terrorist attack by North Korean agents in October 1983, the Chun Doo-hwan administration resumed the domestic missile development project. The missile born at this time was the "Hyunmoo-1."

Hyunmoo-1 Ballistic Missile Born from Aung San Bombing Terror

The "Hyunmoo-1" and Baekgom have similar ranges (180 km) and warhead weights (500 kg). The "Hyunmoo-1" was deployed in 1987 but was retired after the development of its successor, the "Hyunmoo-2A." The "Hyunmoo-2A" has a range of 300 km and a warhead weight of 500 kg and remains one of the strategic ballistic missiles currently operated by our military. Following the revision of the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines in 2001, which relaxed the range limit (from 100 km to 300 km), it was deployed from 2008. The "Hyunmoo-2B," which improved the accuracy of the "Hyunmoo-2A," was deployed from 2009.

The advancement of our military's missiles occurred in 2012, when the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines were revised twice. The first revision in January 2001 during the Kim Dae-jung administration allowed South Korea to develop and possess missiles with a maximum range of 300 km and a warhead weight of 500 kg. Subsequently, in October 2012 under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the maximum range of ballistic missiles was extended to 800 km in the second revision.

The revised South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines adopted a so-called "trade-off" approach. When South Korea's ballistic missiles have a range of 800 km, the warhead weight is limited to 500 kg; for 500 km, 1 ton; and for 300 km, 2 tons. Based on these guidelines, the "Hyunmoo-2C," with a range of 800 km and a warhead weight of 500 kg, successfully passed its first test launch in June 2015.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines were revised two more times. Under the Moon Jae-in administration, two revisions were made. In November 2017, the third revision allowed ballistic missile ranges up to 800 km but completely removed warhead weight restrictions. In July last year, the fourth revision lifted restrictions on the use of solid fuel for space launch vehicles. Furthermore, with the missile guidelines lifted through this summit, our military's missile sovereignty will be fully restored. Following the lifting of the missile guidelines, development of the "Hyunmoo-4," with a range of 800 km and a warhead weight of 2 tons, began last year.

The Hyunmoo missiles-4 and -5 are scheduled for mass production this year. On May 28, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik stated at a meeting with defense reporters, "The tests of ultra-precision and high-power missiles were successful and will proceed according to the planned schedule." Another official said, "The first launch of the Hyunmoo missile is scheduled for the first half of next year."

Monster Missiles Production This Year Following South Korea-U.S. Missile Guidelines Revision

The Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile, unveiled at last year's 75th Armed Forces Day ceremony, has already signed production contracts with domestic defense companies. The Hyunmoo-4 is an upgraded ballistic missile based on the Hyunmoo-2. The "Hyunmoo-4-1" is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the "Hyunmoo-4-2" is a ship-to-surface ballistic missile, and the "Hyunmoo-4-4" is a submarine-launched ballistic missile. The Hyunmoo-5 is known as a "monster missile" with a warhead weight of 8 to 9 tons and a total weight of 36 tons. It can destroy targets such as tunnels or bunkers deeper than 100 meters underground. It is a high-weight missile designed to deliver destruction power comparable to nuclear weapons in a non-nuclear situation. If the mass production contract for the Hyunmoo-5 is signed, Hanwha Aerospace's Boeun factory can produce up to about 70 units annually. The military plans to deploy up to 200 units to units such as the 1200th Battalion under the Missile Command.

Additionally, on the 12th of this month, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) plans to conduct the final test launch of the Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon (KTSSM-I) at the Anheung Test Site. The KTSSM-I was developed to destroy long-range artillery positions built by North Korea in underground tunnels after the Yeonpyeong Island shelling in November 2010. Once the final test launch verifies trajectory and range, mass production will begin. The development timeline for the KTSSM-II has also been accelerated, shortened from 2034 to 2030. The KTSSM-I operates from fixed positions, but the KTSSM-II will be operated from a mobile launcher (TEL) vehicle of a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Its mobility and concealment enhance soldiers' survivability. Its range is also longer, at 300 km, twice that of the KTSSM-I (180 km).