South Korea is mass-producing Hyunmoo-5 “bunker-buster” ballistic missiles in preparation for their deployment by the end of the year, Seoul’s defense minister has revealed, asserting that these “monster missiles” will maintain a “balance of terror” against North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

In an interview released by South Korean outlet Yonhap News Agency on Friday, Ahn Gyu-back also offered his first detailed assessment of North Korea’s new long-range nuclear missile, while reaffirming the goal of achieving the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington by 2030.