US announces new joint exercise with South Korea

The US military plans a joint anti-submarine warfare exercise with South Korea early next month, sending a message to the North that Washington is committed to defending its ally, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesperson Bryan Whitman told reporters the joint military exercise, which is likely to anger regional power China, would be conducted off the western coast of South Korea and was aimed at defending against "sub-surface" attacks.

"This exercise certainly sends a clear message to North Korea that the US is committed to the defence of the Republic of Korea. Our commitment is unequivocal," Whitman told reporters.

Asked about China's likely response to the exercise, Whitman said Beijing had no reason to view the joint series of exercises as a threat to its security.

"These exercises are intended to deter North Korea from future destabilizing attacks such as that which occurred with Cheonan," he said, referring to the sinking of a South Korean warship earlier this year which was blamed on Pyongyang.