South Korea and the United States have agreed to hold combined military exercises in the Yellow Sea starting Sunday.

The White House said the agreement on the timing of the exercises was reached when U.S. President Barack Obama called President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday in the wake of North Korea’s artillery attack on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island.

The White House said the U.S. and South Korea will hold combined military exercises to underscore the strength of their alliance and their commitment to peace and security in the region.

According to the White House, Obama assured Lee that the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with South Korea.

Obama said that Pyongyang must stop its provocative actions and fully abide by the terms of the Korean War armistice agreement and its obligations under international law.

Meanwhile, the United States Forces Korea (USFK) announced that the joint military exercises with the South Korean Navy will be held from Sunday to next Wednesday in the Yellow Sea.

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier, the USS Cowpens cruiser, the USS Stethem destroyer, the USS Fitzgerald and the USS Shiloh will all take part in the military exercises.

The USFK noted that the drills were planned before the North’s artillery attack and that the agreement to carry out the joint exercises was reached when top diplomats and defense chiefs of the two nations met for talks in Seoul in July.

The USFK said the upcoming drill will center on antiaircraft defense and naval surface warfare. The exercises aim to enhance the interoperability of the South Korean and U.S. militaries as well as to display the solid alliance between the two countries.