The United States reiterated its rejection Wednesday of North Korea's offer to suspend nuclear tests in exchange for the U.S. scrapping joint military drills with South Korea, a day after a North Korean diplomat proposed to provide an explanation about the proposal.

"Our position on the offer from the DPRK has not changed. That it's an implicit threat linking something that is, by definition, defensive, annual in nature, with something that they would possibly do that is a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.

The North disclosed the offer Saturday, saying it delivered the proposal to the U.S. a day earlier. Washington has immediately rejected the proposal, and urged Pyongyang to live up to its denuclearization commitments.

On Tuesday, the North's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, An Myong-hun, said the North is ready to meet with the U.S. face-to-face to provide additional explanations about the proposal, such as the intention behind the offer.

"We've always said we're open to dialogue with the DPRK. That hasn't changed. And you know, they can do as much explaining as they want about this offer, but our position is what it is," Harf said.

Harf said she is aware of reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Moscow, but has no further information.

Russia has invited Kim and other world leaders to celebrations in May marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. The Associated Press has reported that Kim is looking increasingly likely to accept the invitation.

"We, of course, maintain regular contact and consultation with Russia on DPRK-related issues, including the nuclear issue, of course, and closely coordinate with allies and partners, including Russia, to counter the threat to global security that is posed by the DPRK. I don't have further information on the announced visit yet," she said. (Yonhap)