NORTH Korean officials have reportedly attempted to arrange talks with US government analysts in an effort to try and better understand President Donald Trump.

The Washington Post reports that the rogue state has been quietly trying to arrange talks with Republican-linked analysts in Washington, in an apparent attempt to make sense of Mr Trump and his confusing message to Kim Jung-un’s regime.

“Their number-one concern is Trump. They can’t figure him out,” one person with direct knowledge of North Korea’s approach to Asia experts with Republican connections told the newspaper.

It comes amid rising tensions between the two countries and as Mr Trump warned North Korea on Tuesday that any military option would be “devastating” for Pyongyang, but said the use of force was not Washington’s first option.

“We are totally prepared for the second option, not a preferred option,” Mr Trump said, referring to military force.

“But if we take that option, it will be devastating, I can tell you that, devastating for North Korea. That’s called the military option. If we have to take it, we will.”

North Korea is said to want to get a better understanding of US intentions and reportedly invited former CIA analyst Bruce Klingner, who is now the Heritage Foundation’s top expert on the nation, to Pyongyang for meetings.

Mr Trump reportedly has close ties to Heritage, a conservative think tank that has influenced the president on everything from travel restrictions to defence spending, but no personal connection to Mr Klingner, according to The Washington Post. He declined the invitation.

“They’re on a new binge of reaching out to American scholars and ex-officials,” Mr Klingner told the newspaper.

“While such meetings are useful, if the regime wants to send a clear message it should reach out directly to the US government.”

According to the newspaper, Douglas H. Paal, who served as an Asia expert on the National Security Council under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and is now vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was also approached by North Korean intermediaries.

Mr Paal said they wanted him to arrange talks between North Korean officials and American experts with Republican ties in a neutral location such as Switzerland. He also declined the North Korean request.

“The North Koreans are clearly eager to deliver a message. But I think they’re only interested in getting some travel, in getting out of the country for a bit,” Mr Paal said.