South Korea on Thursday unveiled a locally made interceptor missile designed to counter North Korean ballistic missiles and fighter jets.

The new Iron Hawk-II surface-to-air missile, with a range of up to 40 kilometres (24 miles), was displayed at a ceremony in the Agency for Defence Development headquarters in the central city of Daejeon, the agency said.

It said that 15 local companies were involved in the project, which began in 2006.

The Iron Hawk-II can intercept air-to-surface guided missiles, the agency said, and can attack multiple targets with a single radar system more accurately than other guided weapons in operation.

The new missile proves that South Korea's technology in guided weapons is "on a par with other advanced nations", it said in a statement.

South Korea has developed various missiles to counter threats from North Korea.

The North has about 600 Scud missiles capable of hitting targets in South Korea, and possibly also of reaching Japanese territory, according to South Korean military data.

Another 200 Rodong-1 missiles could could reach Tokyo, while the North has also conducted three test launches of intercontinental Taepodong missiles.