A U.S. weekly says the United States will deploy an Aegis-class guided missile destroyer in the East Sea in September.

This week's issue of Defense News said that the destroyer will remain in the waters between South Korea and Japan on a virtually continuous basis.

Quoting U.S. Navy Secretary Gordon England, the reports said Monday that the deployment plan is part of American efforts to set up an anti-missile shield to guard against attacks from potential aggressors, primarily North Korea.

The destroyer is equipped to track possible enemy missiles.