WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The White House made clear Tuesday that it opposes the proposed construction of a missile defense base along the East Coast to counter threats from North Korea and Iran.

In a statement, the White House said the call by the House Armed Services Committee, dominated by Republicans, is "premature."

Last week, the panel passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2013.

It calls for the U.S. to build a third missile defense site on the East Coast to beef up the capability to intercept possible intercontinental ballistic missiles from North Korea and Iran.

The U.S. now has missile defense bases in California and Alaska.

"The Administration is disappointed, however, with the many provisions in this bill that impede the ability of the Secretary of Defense to carry out the 2012 defense strategic guidance," the Office of Management and Budget at the White House said.

"Section 223, which would require a missile defense site on the East Coast of the United States, is premature because the Administration has not identified a requirement for a third U.S.-based missile defense site, nor assessed the feasibility or cost in a cost-constrained environment," it said.