U.S. Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said on Thursday aircraft carrier USS George Washington will be sent to waters off the Korean Peninsula to participate in war games with South Korea.

"The USS George Washington will indeed exercise in the Yellow Sea," Geoff Morrell said.

China has voiced objection to any military drills off its coast. The drills were postponed from its original schedule on Sept. 5-9.

However, Morrell didn't give a specific timetable, stressing that it's not an affront to China, but rather a warning to Pyongyang.

"We have said that will take place. I don't think we have determined a date yet, but rest assured, the George Washington will operate in the Yellow Sea, as it does in other international waters," he said.

Following the sinking in March of a South Korean warship, the United States and South Korea announced new sanctions against Pyongyang and a series of joint military exercises in the waters off the coast of the Korean Peninsula.

The hardline stance incurred fierce response from Pyongyang, which was blamed for the incident by Washington and Seoul.

Pyongyang had threatened to mount a nuclear deterrence to counter the muscle flexing of the United States and South Korea.