South Korean Defense Minister An Gwi-bae proposed a retaliation plan against North Korea's large-scale attacks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency, which involves mass-producing the new ballistic missile "Hwanseong-5." An Gwi-bae said, "Since South Korea cannot possess nuclear weapons, we must have a large number of Hwanseong-5 'Monsters' missiles to achieve a balance of terror." He stated that the Hwanseong-5 missile has already started mass production and is currently preparing to further increase production, with expected deployment in the South Korean military by the end of this year.
The Hwanseong-5 missile is roughly the size of an intercontinental ballistic missile but is designed for conventional strike missions. The South Korean Ministry of Defense describes it as a "short-range penetration ballistic missile." This missile can quickly and effectively strike hardened underground targets, such as North Korea's underground command and control systems and underground bunkers storing strategic weapons.
The Hwanseong-5 missile was first unveiled at a military parade in South Korea in 2024. It has a launch weight of approximately 36 tons, with a warhead weight between 8 and 9 tons. Its maximum range is estimated to be around 300 kilometers, with a speed of up to 10 Mach. However, if the warhead weight is significantly reduced, the range could double or even increase geometrically. For example, if the warhead weight is reduced to 1 ton, the maximum range could reach 5,000 kilometers.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1846471177409676/
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