US President Barack Obama has rejected the DPRK's offer to halt nuclear tests if the United States suspends joint military exercises with South Korea, saying he doesn’t take the proposal seriously and will continue to take steps to defend the Asian ally.

"After the Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test, it is now facing strong sanctions from the international community. We think that the remarks by Pyongyang's Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong that the country will halt nuclear tests if the Unites States suspends the joint military exercise with South Korea, intend to shift the responsibility for anti-North sanctions to Seoul and Washington and break apart future discussions on anti-North sanctions," Jeong Joon-Hee, spokesman of South Korean Unification Ministry, said.