WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced Tuesday that 800 soldiers, about 40 Abrams battle tanks and 40 armored infantry fighting vehicles would be deployed to South Korea next month as part of the Defense Department’s “rebalance” of forces across Asia and the Pacific.

Pentagon officials emphasized that the nine-month deployment of a battalion from the First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Tex., had been under discussion for a year and was not tied to any specific security concern or provocation from North Korea.

“This addition of forces to Korea is part of the rebalance to the Pacific,” said Col. Steven H. Warren, director of Pentagon press operations. “It’s been long planned and is part of our enduring commitment to security on the Korean Peninsula.”

Pentagon officials confirmed, though, that the additional troops and armor would increase combat readiness and war-fighting ability for the United States and South Korea.