The U.S. Department of Defense says North Korea’s recent missile launches are not helping efforts to resolve defense-related issues on the Korean Peninsula.

Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said the North’s missile launches are “unhelpful and potentially destabilizing” and cannot be tolerated by the U.S. or other countries in the region.

Morrell made the remarks in a news conference set up to announce Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ plan to visit South Korea, Japan and Slovakia from October 18th to the 23rd.

Morrell said that during his stay in Seoul, Gates will reinforce U.S. commitment to its alliance with South Korea in the wake of the North’s recent missile launches.

The secretary will travel to Seoul to cochair the 41st annual Security Consultative Meeting with Defense Minister Kim Tae-young.

The two-day meeting will open October 21st.