U.S. naval exercises with the Republic of Korea (ROK) are "defensive in nature" and are designed to send a "signal of deterrence" to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the White House said on Wednesday.

"I think that it's important to understand that these are exercises that are defensive in nature," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a regular press briefing.

He said the exercises are designed to send "a clear signal of deterrence to the aggression of North Korea and in support of the defense of South Korea".

The Republic of Korea and the United States have agreed to stage a series of joint naval and air drills starting next week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said Tuesday.

The first joint exercise involving the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington will come July 25 in waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, and the two allies plan to stage more drills down the road in both the Yellow Sea and the East Sea.