US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that China's "pursuit of hypersonic weapons increases tensions in the region," vowing that his country would maintain its capability to deter potential "threats" posed by China.

Austin's remarks in Seoul came during the 53rd annual security talks with his South Korean counterpart, which focused on issues their countries are facing on China and North Korea.

"We have concerns about the military capabilities that the PRC continues to pursue," Austin asserted.

"The pursuit of those capabilities increases tensions in the region," he added, referring to China's latest hypersonic weapons test in July.

.@SecDef: Today, we completed the 53rd U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting – the capstone annual event for our Alliance. And I’d like to give a sense of what we achieved. pic.twitter.com/BlHgGlv63w

— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) December 2, 2021

The Defense Minister argued that China's "pursuit of capabilities" was the reason behind the US seeing Beijing as "a pacing challenge."

The Asian giant has denied US claims about its testing of hypersonic missiles, asserting that the July tests were for a reusable space vehicle, not missiles as the United States was alleging.

"We'll continue to maintain the capabilities to defend and deter against a range of potential threats from the PRC to ourselves and our allies," he claimed.

North Korea "destabilizing regional security"

The US defense chief reportedly discusses a wide range of issues with his South Korean counterpart, including bilateral unity in the face of the "threat from the north."

The two officials remarked that North Korea's advancement of its missile and other weapons programs was "increasingly destabilizing for regional security," Austin declared.

He also added the two nations remained committed to a diplomatic approach to North Korea.

The South Korean defense chief said diplomacy and dialogue based on previous commitments between Seoul and Pyongyang and between the latter and Washington were "essential for achieving permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula."