Ballistic Missile

A weapon system launched by rocket propulsion that reaches a target along a ballistic trajectory; it is a core nuclear delivery means.

Ballistic Missile

Overview

A ballistic missile (탄도미사일, 彈道미사일) is a weapon system that, after being launched by a rocket engine and passing through its initial boost phase, flies mostly along a ballistic trajectory governed by gravity and inertia and delivers a warhead to a target. Unlike guided missiles, it has limited sustained thrust and maneuverability during flight, but it is characterized by very high speed, high apogee, and long range. It developed as a major delivery means for nuclear weapons during the Cold War, and even today it forms a core axis of nuclear deterrence and national security strategy.

Key Details

Classification by Range

Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM): Range under 1,000 km. Used for tactical and battlefield-level strikes.
Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000–3,000 km. Constitutes a regional-level threat.
Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM): 3,000–5,500 km. Regional U.S. military bases such as Guam are major range targets.
Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): Over 5,500 km. A core means of intercontinental nuclear deterrence.
Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM): Launched from submarines, offering high stealth and survivability.

Flight Phases

Ballistic missile flight is generally divided into three phases. The boost phase is the segment after launch in which the rocket provides thrust and the missile exits the atmosphere; it is the most difficult for the enemy to detect early and intercept. The midcourse phase is the segment in which it flies along a ballistic trajectory in outer space; it has the longest flight time, so interception opportunities are relatively more numerous. The terminal phase is the segment in which it re-enters the atmosphere and falls toward the target; speed is extremely high, and heat-shield technology for the reentry vehicle is important.

Propulsion Methods and Technology

Early ballistic missiles used liquid-fuel propulsion, but this had the drawbacks of long launch preparation time and exposure of fueling facilities. Later, as solid-fuel propulsion developed, storage in arsenals, rapid launch, and operation from mobile launchers (TELs) became possible. Reentry vehicles (RVs) are equipped with heat shields and precision guidance devices, and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology, which mounts multiple warheads on a single missile, is a representative means of making interception difficult.

Defense Systems

Ballistic missile defense (BMD) consists of early-warning satellites, ground- and sea-based radars, and interceptor missiles. Representative examples include the U.S. THAAD (terminal high-altitude defense), Patriot PAC-3 (terminal lower-tier defense), Aegis ships and SM-3 (midcourse sea-based interception), and Israel's Iron Dome (interception of short-range rockets and artillery shells). Interception requires decision-making within a short time: detection–tracking–engagement decision–interceptor launch, and multiple warheads, decoys, and hypersonic glide vehicles greatly complicate defense.

International Norms and Controls

The 1972 ABM Treaty limited large-scale strategic defense, but it lost effect when the United States withdrew in 2002. The 1987 INF Treaty banned intermediate-range nuclear missiles, but it was abandoned in 2019. The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal multilateral regime that controls the transfer of missiles with a range of 300 km or more and a payload of 500 kg or more, and related technology. As of February 2026, with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between Russia and the United States approaching expiration in February 2026, follow-up negotiations are at a standstill, and concerns about strategic stability are growing.

Major Possessor States

Representative examples include the United States (Minuteman III, Trident II), Russia (Yars, Sarmat, Sineva), China (Dongfeng series), North Korea (Hwasong series), India (Agni), Pakistan (Shaheen), and Iran (Shahab, Fateh). South Korea, after revisions to the ROK-U.S. missile guidelines, has gradually expanded the range and warhead weight limits of its Hyunmoo-series ballistic missiles.

Recent Trends

The biggest change in the ballistic missile field in 2024–2025 is the operationalization of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) and hypersonic cruise missiles. Russia used the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in actual combat on the Ukrainian battlefield, sending a warning message to the West, and in mutual attacks between Iran and Israel, large-scale ballistic missiles and interceptors were mobilized simultaneously, putting the effectiveness of defense systems to the test. North Korea showcased its high-angle (lofted) launch capability and long-range flight performance with the 2024 test launch of the Hwasong-19, and in 2025 it is continuing to build an early-warning and strike system combined with military reconnaissance satellites. The United States is pushing for operational deployment of hypersonic missiles such as Dark Eagle (LRHW), and regional countries such as Japan and Australia are also moving to secure long-range strike capabilities. AI-based early warning and interception decision systems, strengthened satellite tracking networks, and the introduction of space-based sensors have become key terms for next-generation missile defense. At the same time, export controls to prevent missile proliferation and normative discussions covering the space and cyber domains are proceeding in parallel.