The United States says its joint military drill with South Korea is expected to take place after foreign and defense ministers of the two nations hold talks next week.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that officials from the two sides will discuss the upcoming military exercise during their talks in Seoul next week.

Whitman stressed that there will be no announcements regarding the postponed military exercise before the meeting takes place.

He added that the drill was sought with South Korea’s security in mind and is not at all aimed at causing concerns for China.

The postponement comes as South Korea had hoped to hold the drill in June, but later decided to delay it until after the United Nations Security Council released its July ninth response to the sinking of the "Cheonan" warship.