South Korea is building up a comprehensive counter-artillery system to guard against growing threats posed by North Korea's multiple rocket launchers, the defense ministry said Monday.

North Korea said last week it has conducted the final test-fire of a large-caliber multiple rocket launching system that is ready for combat deployment.

The imminent deployment of the multiple 300-millimeter caliber rocket launching system reportedly places half of the South Korean territory within its range.

"Against the threats from North Korea's multiple rocket launchers and long-range artillery, is building up a countermeasure system based on an anti-artillery warfare concept," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said in a press briefing earlier in the day. 

As part of the efforts, the military is developing a new attack system that puts together some of its artillery weapons like its own Chunmoo MRLS, the Army Tactical Missile System surface-to-surface missile, and the SLAM-ER air-launched cruise missiles used by the Air Force, Moon noted. 

"We are making relentless efforts to upgrade the capability," he said. 

The military is also running a surveillance system that integrates its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets with surveillance drones and the ARTHUR counter-artillery radar system, according to Moon.

North Korea has recently stepped up its military ante apparently in order to show off the progress it has made in upgrading nuclear and missile capabilities as well as in advancing the striking power of its multiple rocket launchers and other long-range artillery systems, he said. (Yonhap)