North Korea has proposed to temporarily suspend nuclear tests if the United States calls off its annual joint military exercises with South Korea.

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday that its government made the proposal to Washington through a "relevant channel" a day earlier.

KCNA reported that the message proposed the U.S. contribute to easing tension on the Korean peninsula by temporarily suspending joint military drills in South Korea and its vicinity this year.  In return, Pyongyang said, it is ready to take such a corresponding response as temporarily suspending the nuclear test. 

The state-run news media said the North also suggested in the message that it is ready to hold talks if the U.S. wants dialogue.

The proposal comes ahead of a planned meeting between North Korea's envoy for the six-party nuclear talks, Ri Yong-ho, and former U.S. delegates to the stalled denuclearization talks next week. The North Korean chief nuclear negotiator is expected to meet with U.S. ex-envoys Stephen Bosworth and Joseph DeTrani in Singapore over a two-day period from Friday.

North Korea experts explained that Pyongyang is now sending out a signal that it wants to improve relations with the U.S. amid speculations that Washington could add North Korea back to the blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism. 

In an interview with KBS, Professor Nam Sung-wook of Korea University noted that Pyongyang is also trying to find justifications for a possible fourth nuclear test by revealing its offer to the U.S. that may not be moved by the proposed deal.

Including the latest one in February of 2013, North Korea carried out three nuclear tests so far.