[Exclusive] Hyunmoo Missile Launcher Wheel Detaches During Movement [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

One of Eight Launch Pad Wheels Detaches During Operation Causing Accident

An accident occurred where a wheel came off a launcher capable of mounting the Hyunmoo missile while in transit. Considering the length of the launcher, there are concerns that this could have led to a major accident, prompting criticism that maintenance should have been handled more carefully.

According to the military on the 28th, soldiers belonging to a unit under the Missile Command conducted a night movement training on the 5th. This day was the day after the start of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Freedom Shield (FS)." The unit reportedly conducted the night movement training separately from the FS exercise.

The soldiers moved from their unit located in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, toward Wonju in Gangwon Province. While traveling on a public road, one wheel of the launcher came off. At the time, the driver was a non-commissioned officer from the unit. After the wheel came off, the soldiers stopped the launcher on the shoulder and reattached the wheel. The unit stated that the Hyunmoo missile launcher has eight wheels, so losing one wheel did not hinder movement.

If the Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile had been mounted at the time, it could have led to a major accident. The Hyunmoo ballistic missile caused confusion in October 2022 due to a misfire accident in Gangneung. The military launched the Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile during a joint counter-fire exercise in response to North Korea's intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) provocations, but the missile flew abnormally immediately after launch and fell within the base. The strong flash and loud noise caused by the missile's fall prompted inquiries from residents in the Gangneung area to government offices. Since proper notification that it was a training exercise was not provided, confusion continued throughout the night.

The Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile, with a range of 800 km, has the key advantage of being able to strike all of North Korea even when deployed in rear areas south of the central region. Deploying this missile in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, also puts all targets in North Korea well within range. Even if fired from Jeju Island at the southernmost point, it can reach Sinuiju in North Korea.

A military official stated, "So far, there have been no casualties, equipment damage, or civilian harm," and added, "We will thoroughly manage vehicle preventive maintenance to ensure that similar incidents do not occur."