South Korea's defense ministry on Friday said the issue of deploying a U.S. advanced missile defense system on South Korean soil will not be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the two countries' defense chiefs.

"The two countries are in consultation over the deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery on South Korean soil. After the consultation is over, the results will come out," the ministry said in a statement.

Seoul's reaction came as U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he expects the issue of the THAAD missile defense system to come up when he meets with his South Korean counterpart, Han Min-koo, in Singapore on Saturday, according to a transcript by the Defense Department.

In early March, the two countries launched a working group to discuss the issue of the THAAD deployment, but they have not unveiled details about any progress. (Yonhap)