The United States will reportedly provide a five-month period for North Korea to freeze its nuclear facilities ahead of their total dismantlement.

The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, citing a top American official, reported Wednesday that the U.S. would make the offer during the third round of six-way nuke talks in Beijing.

The U.S. official was quick to add that any freezing of nuclear facilities should be a first stage in the complete dismantling of all North Korean nuclear weapons programs.

He also noted that the U.S. would be open to discussing the scope of nuclear facilities to be frozen and verification methods, and possible provision of energy aid to the North in return for the freeze.

The paper added that the U.S. move may signal a turning point in resolving the protracted nuclear impasse.

The paper further reported that South Korea will lay out a proposal of its own in which Seoul would offer compensation if and when North Korea freezes its nuclear programs.