This undated file photo, provided by the defense ministry, shows an interception test of the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile system. Yonhap

South Korea has completed the development of a homegrown Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) system, the defense ministry said Friday, in a feat that will help bolster the military's air defense capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

A ceremony marking the completion of the L-SAM, designed to shoot down incoming targets at altitudes of above 40 kilometers, took place at the Agency for Defense Development in Daejeon, about 140 km southeast of Seoul, according to the ministry.

While the ministry did not elaborate on the precise altitude the new system covers, it is known to shoot down targets at altitudes of 50 to 60 km, working in a multi-layered missile defense system, along with the U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and M-SAM II air defense systems that intercept targets at altitudes of 40 km or below.

For targets at higher altitudes, the country relies on the U.S. Forces Korea's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system that can defend against upper-tier threats at altitudes of 40-150 km.

In a congratulatory message sent for the ceremony, President Yoon Suk Yeol hailed the completion as "groundbreaking progress" in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who attended the ceremony, warned the North against carrying out such provocations.

"Even if North Korea attempts a missile provocation, the North cannot penetrate our military's sturdy defense system," Kim said in his congratulatory address during the ceremony. "It will have to pay a price, the 'end of its regime,' which is bigger than what it gets through provocation."

With the completion of the development, South Korea is expected to begin production of the L-SAM next year and deploy it to the military during the mid-to-late 2020s.

Once deployed, the L-SAM is expected to play a central role in the country's multilayered missile shield, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).

KAMD is a pillar of the country's three-axis deterrence structure that also includes the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) system.

"KAMD is a system that defends our territory while the other two systems are more focused on the offensive," a ministry official said. "The development of L-SAM is meaningful as we get another opportunity for interception at a higher altitude. This enhances the level of defense for our territory."

The military is currently developing a Block-II version of the L-SAM designed to intercept targets at altitudes higher than the current one. (Yonhap)