North Korea told Washington at the weekend that it is willing to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests if the US suspends planned military exercises with South Korea.

The US State Department called the linking of the exercises with a possible nuclear test “an implicit threat” but said it was open to dialogue with North Korea.

The latest proposal comes at a time of animosity between North Korea and the US over a Hollywood “comedy” film made by Sony depicting the assassination of North Korean dynastic leader Kim Jong Un.