South Korea has developed a technology to disrupt electronic signals in electronic warfare, a military source said Sunday.

"The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has recently developed electromagnetic pulse (EMP) technology to paralyze electronic devices," the source said. "The ADD began working on this technology in 1999."

According to the source, the ADD will further build on this primary technology and develop capabilities to repeatedly send EMP signals at high frequencies. The ADD will then look to develop EMP bombs with advanced capabilities, the source added.

"The EMP technology we have now would be rated 'soft kill,' meaning it would paralyze electronic devices or systems within a 100-meter radius," the source explained. "If we can improve on this, we will then reach the 'hard kill' level, whereby the technology will actually destroy intended targets."

EMP bombs are considered critical assets in new types of warfare for their ability to neutralize or damage radars, airplanes, naval fleets and aerial defense systems. Experts believe such bombs may disrupt North Korean electronic systems at its nuclear or long-range missile bases. EMP is also produced from nuclear explosions.

North Korea is also known to be developing EMP bombs. South Korea has been trying to protect key military facilities, including the defense ministry headquarters, from potential electronic attacks. In its report submitted to the parliament for an annual audit last September, the ADD said South Korea doesn't have sufficient technology to fend off EMP attacks, and it can only defend against less-damaging electromagnetic interference (EMI).