South Korea Tests New Hyunmoo-4 Ballistic Missile

Recent reports have emerged that South Korea's armed forces tested the new Hwasong-4 ballistic missile in March 2020, according to an official source cited by the Yonhap news agency. Two tests were reportedly carried out at the Anheung Proving Grounds on the country’s West Coast. The missile’s predecessor the Hyunmoo-3 is considered one of South Korea’s most dangerous assets, and allows the country’s armed forces to carry out precision strikes against targets across Japan, and much of China as well as all of North Korea. The missile follows on from the Hyunmoo-2C and Hyunmoo-2B short ranged ballistic missiles - which are thought to be modelled on the Russian Iskander tactical platform. Unlike the Hyunmoo-3  but like the Hyunmoo-2, the Hyunmoo-4 is a solid fuelled ballistic platform. Testing follows on from North Korean tests of its own solid fuelled tactical ballistic missile platforms, the KN-23 and KN-25, whcih are designed to neutralise airfields and military bases in the event of war. The Hyunmoo-4 will reportedly have a range of up to 800km, but most notably its payload will reportedly be a staggering 1800kg plus - significantly greater the standard for other tactical missile classes such as the 300kg Soviet Scud-B and North Korean Hwasong-5 and the 500-700kg Russian Iskander. The missile’s booster rocket will potentially be applicable to future designs with lighter warheads allowing them to reach targets at considerably longer ranges.