Korea will be hosting the annual Proliferation Security Initiative in Seoul and Busan next week as part of global efforts to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.

The event, which brings together 21 countries starting Monday, is hosted by the Defense Ministry, the Coast Guard and the Foreign Ministry.

It is divided into two parts -- a conference in Seoul and a maritime exercise in Busan -- but only Korea, the U.S., Japan and Australia will be taking part in the drill.

The Defense Ministry stressed that the PSI is a completely separate matter from a derailed Korea-Japan military pact or tensions surrounding the Dokdo islets.