Washington has rejected China’s proposal that North Korea could halt its nuclear weapons programme if the United States and South Korea suspended military activities in the region.

US State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said it was like comparing “apples and oranges”, but admitted that Washington had to seek a fresh approach to the North Korean issue.

He was speaking after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi compared the US and North Korea to two speeding trains that are set for a “head-on collision”.