Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM)

Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM) is one of the key assets of the Kill Chain, a system of preemptive strikes by North Korea's missiles and guns when the war is imminent. Army Chief of Staff Kim Yong-woo introduced the missile as a "deadly force that could neutralize North Korea's asymmetric threat in the shortest time and change the battlefield in a short time." KTSSM is separate from the Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile family. While Hyunmoo-series missile and ATACMS are operated by the Army Missile Command, KTSSM is operated in the Corps-level.

The missile is a low-cost tactical ballistic missile, costing less than half as much as Hyunmoo-2 SRBM, designed to defeat hardened and reinforced targets along the DMZ in quick notice. It weighs 1.5 tons, is GPS/INS-guided to hit targets within two meters, and has range of 180km. KTSSM is separate from the Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile family. While Hyunmoo-series missile and ATACMS are operated by the Army Missile Command, KTSSM is operated in the Corps-level.

The accuracy of the target point is also improved, so even one shot can cause fatal damage to the target. The military says it has the capability to destroy not only North Korea's nuclear and missile bases, but also all of the Jangsa-gun mines, which pose a threat to the metropolitan area.

Tactical ground guided weapons began as one of the “lightning projects” initiated in November 2010 following the point of urgent need for power reinforcement after the bombing of the Yeonpyeong Island. It was designed as a means of hitting North Korea's Jangjeongpo positions, hidden in underground tunnels. This is why it is nicknamed 'Jangsajeongpo Killer'.

The KTSSM have a shaped thermal warhead that can penetrate bunkers and hardened, dug-in targets several meters underground or 1.5 m (4.9 ft) of concrete. While it resembles the American MGM-140 ATACMS missile, the KTSSM is said to be less expensive and more accurate with a shorter range, though still adequate to the counter-battery mission. The missile come in two versions: KTSSM-1 is designed to attack M1978/M1989 Koksan 170 mm howitzers and M1985/M1991 240 mm unguided multiple rocket launchers (MRLs); and KTSSM-2, which is a self-propelled system tasked with negating KN-09 300 mm MRLs and KN-02 short-range ballistic missiles. The Block I version employs a thermal penetrating warhead and a Block II version with a unitary high-explosive warhead. On June 2016, Hanwha unveiled the K-BATS (Korean Ballistic Aerial Target System), the 'round' of the next tactical guided weapon, at the Eurosatory, the world's largest ground weapons exhibition. K-BATS is not an attack ballistic missile, but a target for use in surface-to-air missile intercept tests. It has a length of 4m, a diameter of 0.6m and a weight of 1.5 tons, and its maximum range is known as 180km. The upgrade to K-BATS is a land-based tactical ballistic missile. On 28 July 2017 the ROK Ministry of National Defense released video of the new ballistic missile demonstration.

The National Assembly Defense Committee visited Anheung General Examination Center in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do on 24 October 2017 for a site inspection. The test site is where the Defense Research Institute (ADD) tests missiles and cannons. The subjects of parliamentary inspections on the day were test launches of KTSSM Tactical Ground-guided Weapons. Overseas, it is called a tactical ballistic missile (maximum range 300km or less). An official from the Agency for Defense Development said, "People were interested in tactics for guided weapons on tactics and carried out on-site inspections."

Government documents reported in June 2019 that UAE had formally requested the sale of an undisclosed number of Hanwha Defense System's KTSSM tactical ballistic missiles, and their Chunmoo launching vehicles, subject to approval by the South Korean government.

On 25 November 2020 Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) decided to purchse more than 200 KSSTM units. Dubbed the “artillery killer,” Hanwha Corporation designed the missile under contract to the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Under the 450 billion won (US$406.14 million) project, South Korea successfully developed the new weapon with its own technology, and an additional 320 million won was earmarked for its mass production.