An annual summit between South Korea, China and Japan is unlikely to take place in May, a senior official said Wednesday, amid claims that Beijing has been noncommittal about Seoul's proposal to hold the meeting next month.

The three countries have held a cooperation summit every year, and it is South Korea's turn to host this year's session. But the sides have yet to reach agreement on when to meet due reportedly to China's reluctance over a territorial dispute with Japan over a group of islands in the East China Sea.

On Wednesday, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that this year's summit could be put off until after the fall as China has balked at the proposal for a May meeting saying the "timing has not been ripe" for the summit.

"It appears there are some changes in the schedule of the Korea-China-Japan summit," a senior presidential official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "It looks like it won't be held at an early date."

A foreign ministry official also said that a May meeting is unlikely because of the time needed for preparations.

"We have to continue discussions between the three countries about when to hold the summit," the official said.

(Yonhap News)