The U.S. and South Korea will respond “sternly” to a North Korean nuclear test by deploying strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s defense ministry said Wednesday, after concluding two days of defense talks with the U.S.

North Korea is widely expected to conduct a seventh nuclear test in the near future, a contingency the allies discussed during the annual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The two sides confirmed that South Korea and the U.S. will jointly respond strongly and sternly should North Korea conduct a nuclear test, including [measures such as] deploying U.S. strategic