Reiterating its stance on the status quo in the South China Sea, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the U.S. will not tolerate any attempts to change the situation in that region.

"The United States stands firmly against any coercive attempts to alter the status quo," said the U.S. defense secretary at the Asia Security Summit in Singapore on Saturday.

The defense secretary was apparently referring to China's recent assertiveness over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which is administered Japan, and the islands claimed by several South Asian countries including Taiwan in the South China Sea.

"In the South China Sea, the United States continues to call on all claimants to exercise restraint as they publicly pledged in 2002, and to seek peaceful means to resolve these incidents," said Chuck Hagel.

The U.S. defense secretary urged all the defense ministers and officials at the summit to solve the disputes "in a manner that maintains peace and security, adheres to international law, and protects unimpeded lawful commerce, as well as freedom of navigation and over flight."

However, Chuck Hagel made it clear that the U.S. does not take any particular position on sovereignty over the Senkakus or in the South China Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama are scheduled to meet next week and the two leaders are likely to discuss a range of topics including cyber security and military issues.

While addressing the ministers and officials from different countries, Chuck Hagel also touched topics like the recent nuclear missile tests by North Korea.

"The United States will not stand by while North Korea seeks to develop a nuclear-armed missile that can target the United States," said Chuck Hagel.

Calling North Korea's recent actions as dangerous and a threat to its neighboring countries, the defense secretary said, "No country should conduct 'business as usual' with a North Korea that threatens its neighbors."