The U.S. government has expressed opposition to South Korea’s announcement this week to resume whaling.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. remains “committed to the moratorium on commercial whaling," which was established in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission.

Ventrell continued that the U.S. is concerned about Seoul’s announcement that it will begin a “lethal scientific research whaling program.”

Ventrell hinted that Washington would seek to dissuade South Korea from conducting the program as he noted the U.S. plans to discuss the matter with Seoul.

On Wednesday, South Korea disclosed plans to resume whaling during the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama City. The announcement drew backlash from Australia and New Zealand.