South Korea has developed a homegrown radar technology to identify and track ballistic missile warheads as part of efforts to strengthen the nation's air defense, its state-run military research agency said Tuesday.

The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has secured the technology designed to discern warheads of hostile missiles from other non-explosive parts, such as propellants and debris created from the separation of rockets, its officials said.

"It is one of the technologies necessary for the country to conduct independent air defense operations in preparation against growing ballistic missile threats," the ADD said in a press release.

The agency acquired the technology under a development project launched in 2018.

North Korea, meanwhile, fired an apparent submarine-launched ballistic missile in waters off its east coast on Saturday in its 15th show of force this year. (Yonhap)