South Korea and the United States, bowing to pressure from China, have said that they will change the location of a joint naval exercise seen as a warning to North Korea.

Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday that the two countries planned to stage massive naval maneuvers in the Yellow Sea, close to Chinese territory, in a show of military force after North Korea's alleged sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

A senior South Korean defense ministry official said that in an apparent response to Chinese complaints, the exercise will be moved to the Sea of Japan, called the East Sea by South Korea, on the other side of the Korean peninsula from China.

China had warned the exercise near its waters would increase regional tensions.

Saying he expects the exercise to be carried out this month, the official said, "The joint South Korea-U. S. naval drill will be staged in the East Sea."

"It can't be ruled out," the official replied when asked if China's protests affected the decision to change the location. (With Inputs from Agencies)