On April 24, 2025, the Republic of Korea’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kim Myeong-soo, conducted a significant field inspection of the new Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM) operational brigade and the Space Observation Center in the central region, according to an announcement posted on the Joint Chiefs’ official Facebook account.
During his visit, General Kim reviewed the operational readiness and performance of the KTSSM system, a newly unveiled advanced surface-to-surface missile specifically developed to deliver precision strikes against strategic enemy targets. The KTSSM, known as “Ure” and often referred to as the “artillery killer,” was developed by Hanwha Corporation in partnership with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to quickly neutralize North Korea’s long-range artillery threats. Designed with the intention of providing a decisive tactical advantage, the KTSSM can launch four missiles almost simultaneously from a fixed launch pad, each capable of traveling up to 120 kilometers (75 miles). The launcher and missile set has a combined cost of approximately $1.9 million, making it a cost-effective solution compared to similar Western systems.
The KTSSM features GPS-guided precision that allows it to hit targets within two meters, a remarkable accuracy that enhances its effectiveness against fortified positions. Its shaped thermal warhead is engineered to penetrate several meters underground or breach up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) of reinforced concrete, allowing it to destroy deeply dug-in North Korean artillery emplacements, missile launch sites, and hardened bunkers. Although it visually resembles the American MGM-140 ATACMS missile, the KTSSM is specifically designed to be cheaper and more accurate, albeit with a shorter range, tailored to South Korea’s counterbattery and preemptive strike needs.
There are two primary versions of the KTSSM. The KTSSM-1 is optimized for targeting North Korean M-1978 Koksan 170 mm howitzers and M1985/M1991 240 mm multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), both of which are central to North Korea’s long-range artillery strategy. Meanwhile, the KTSSM-2 is a self-propelled variant intended to engage more mobile and potent threats such as the KN-09 300 mm MRLs and KN-02 short-range ballistic missiles. The KTSSM-2 comes in two sub-variants: Block I, equipped with a thermal penetrating warhead for defeating hardened targets, and Block II, fitted with a unitary high-explosive warhead designed for more versatile operational use.
In a broader tactical context, the KTSSM provides the Republic of Korea Armed Forces with the ability to conduct rapid counterbattery fires, neutralize North Korea’s critical long-range fire assets before they can inflict damage, and support decapitation strikes against high-value command and control facilities. The missile’s precision, mobility, and cost-efficiency make it an essential element in South Korea’s evolving deterrence and defense posture.